Fortnightly - Solar Electric Power Associationhttp://www.fortnightly.com/tags/solar-electric-power-association
enGermany's Energiewendehttp://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/2014/11/germanys-energiewende
<div class="field field-name-field-import-deck field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Deck:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><span style="font-size: 13.3333339691162px; line-height: 20.5066661834717px;">Lessons learned for U.S. utilities – drawn from first-person fact-finding.</span></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-byline field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Byline:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><span style="font-size: 13.3333339691162px; line-height: 20.0063056945801px;">John Pang, Chris Vlahoplus, John Sterling, and Bob Gibson</span></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-bio field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Author Bio:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p class="p1" style="font-size: 13.3333339691162px; line-height: 20.0063056945801px;"><strong>John Pang</strong> (<a href="mailto:johnpang@scottmadden.com">johnpang@scottmadden.com</a>) and Chris Vlahoplus (<a href="mailto:chrisv@scottmadden.com">chrisv@scottmadden.com</a>) are partners with ScottMadden, Inc. <strong>John Sterling</strong> (<a href="mailto:jsterling@solarelectricpower.org">jsterling@solarelectricpower.org</a>) is Senior Director, Research &amp; Advisory Services at the Solar Electric Power Association. <strong>Bob Gibson</strong> (<a href="mailto:bgibson@solarelectricpower.org">bgibson@solarelectricpower.org</a>) is Vice President of Education and Outreach at the Solar Electric Power Association.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-volume field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Magazine Volume:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Fortnightly Magazine - November 2014</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-image field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1411-ERM-fig1.jpg" width="2042" height="517" alt="Figure 1 - Current and Future Goals" title="Figure 1 - Current and Future Goals" /></div><div class="field-item odd"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1411-ERM-fig2.jpg" width="1351" height="1183" alt="Figure 2 - Utility Strategies: Key Focus Areas" title="Figure 2 - Utility Strategies: Key Focus Areas" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>The German Energiewende (energy transformation) has been discussed in many academic and trade publications, all heralding either the transformational, unparalleled successes of the program, or else the dismal failure and shortsighted focus of politicians and policy makers in designing and executing the transition.</p>
<p>On one hand, the Energiewende has successfully brought on substantial levels of solar and wind energy in Germany. However, rising electricity rates for residential consumers, coupled with the huge losses in market capitalization for the incumbent German utilities, have raised significant questions on how successful the policy has been and whether it will be sustainable over the long term. The result is much confusion about the true nature of the Energiewende and, more importantly, what lessons learned can be applied in the U.S.</p>
<p>To learn first-hand from German experts on what really has occurred and how it can be applied in the U.S., the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and its partner ScottMadden, Inc., led a fact-finding mission for a group of U.S. utility executives, solar developers, and other key stakeholders to Düsseldorf, Germany. The group facilitated discussions with German utilities, government officials, and solar developers to shed new light for American executives on the why's and how's behind Energiewende. They laid a foundation for how these lessons learned could be applied proactively at utilities back home. Four specific impact areas were identified and highlighted in the various discussions held among the participants: Utility Business Models; Operations; Customers and Pricing; and Policy and Regulation.</p>
<h4>Utility Business Models</h4>
<p>The utility business model changed rapidly with the energy transformation in Germany, and the incumbent utilities didn't react nimbly enough to weather this change. The eight largest utility companies in Europe have lost a combined €300 billion of market capitalization since the end of 2007. A majority of these losses are tied directly to holdings in fossil-fired and nuclear central station generation. Nevertheless, other utility operations generally remained healthy (see Sidebar, <i>Germany's Energy Delivery Market</i>). Very few, if any, of the original utilities or policymakers predicted the rapid decrease in the overall cost of solar, which led to the explosion of the distributed solar marketplace. Also, with no restrictions on system size and a healthy Feed-in Tariff (FiT), a proliferation of solar systems surged onto the German system. Currently, there is nearly four times as much interconnected solar capacity in Germany as there is in the U.S., although Germany is a country roughly the size of the state of Montana in land mass and has a population of approximately two times that of California. The solar resource potential in Germany is also far less than that of the majority of the U.S. Germany has similar solar irradiation to that of the U.S. Pacific Northwest.</p>
<p>The huge, rapid influx of solar, coupled with the growth of wind, severely impacted the earning potential of the traditional generators. The electricity market in Germany features a merit order that favors renewables as the resources with the lowest marginal costs. On days when solar and wind production is substantial and demand is low, not only do renewables dominate the dispatch order, but the impact of subsidies for the renewables also causes the value of wholesale power to be negative (not unlike some regions in the Midwestern U.S. with high wind penetration). This circumstance has devastated the financial well-being of the utility companies that own and operate coal, natural gas, and the remaining nuclear generation fleet. While the impact of renewables on the generation market merit order led to a loss of market share for traditional generation, the utilities recognize that it was their own poor investment choices that prevented them from taking advantage of the growth in the renewables market. Not only did the utilities pass on any significant investment in distributed renewables, but they also chose to invest heavily in new coal and gas generation as the replacements for the planned phase-out of nuclear.</p>
<p>One of the reasons the utilities failed to pursue distributed renewables was that their investment strategies needed to meet their weighted average cost of capital (WACC) hurdle rates. Non-utilities and other entrants leveraged low interest rates to justify their investments in distributed solar, but requiring proposed projects to meet WACC hurdle rates prevented the utilities from investing in distributed solar. Instead, many invested heavily in new natural gas generation. Unfortunately for the utilities, however, one of the unintended consequences of the energy transition has been a stronger reliance on lignite generation. The low cost of carbon in Europe has made lignite generation more economical than natural gas, effectively putting even highly efficient combined-cycle gas generation out of the money today.</p>
<p>With the established non-utilities dominating the distributed solar market, utilities attempting to enter the market at this juncture will face a significant challenge. German utilities are now looking for renewable investments outside of Germany to help diversify their portfolios. In addition, German utilities are looking for strategies to deliver holistic energy services for the end consumer, as part of the energy delivery market, which could re-open channels for proactive engagement and re-establish the utility company as a key part of the energy transaction.</p>
<h4>Operations</h4>
<p>Germany has integrated large amounts of renewables onto its electric grid - mostly wind and distributed solar photovoltaics (PV) - without adverse effects on grid integrity, reliability, or resilience. In the first three quarters of 2014, 28% of Germany's total electricity was renewable energy. On May 11, 2014, a record 74% of Germany's total electricity came from renewables.</p>
<p>Originally, Germany's electric grid was very reliable and able to withstand high penetrations of variable generation, which were quickly added to the system. Currently, Germany's grid experiences only about 7% of the outage minutes of the U.S. grid, and SAIDI in the U.S. (System Average Interruption Duration Index) is significantly higher than in Germany (lower is better). In fact, the German outage criteria far exceed the U.S. standards. Distribution System Operators (DSOs) face financial punitive measures when outage times exceed certain levels: 2.5 minutes on the low-voltage system and 13.5 minutes on the medium-voltage system.</p>
<p>The impressive reliability delivered by the German grid, achieved in spite of the large penetration of distributed solar resources, is the direct result of two key attributes of the German grid, the first being that the vast majority of the German distribution system is much younger than the U.S. grid and is primarily underground. (In fact, mission participants struggled to find evidence that the distribution system even existed.) The robustness of the grid was a direct result of the damage done during World War II and the need to construct a new electricity grid. One German solar executive joked: "You Americans did a good job during the War-everything was destroyed. So we had to build a new grid and we did it right." This upgrade has led to a much more reliable grid than even top-tier SAIDI utilities in the U.S. are able to achieve. The robustness of the grid also facilitated the quick expansion of distributed solar, as the interconnection process is much simpler and is completed in days because it doesn't require significant studies, analysis, or upgrades.</p>
<p>The second key factor in facilitating a reliable system is that operators have utilized advanced technology to help maintain reliability targets. Specifically, operators have launched smart inverters that automatically trip distributed solar generators offline and return them to service based on randomized, time-delayed set points.</p>
<p>Originally, all inverters had the same frequency set points and would trip offline and return en masse, potentially causing significant disruption and instability in the system. Now, however, the manufacturers have pre-set randomized set points, as well as randomized time delays to return to service. These two factors help maintain grid stability, but they do come with reduced production on the solar assets - a fact not lost on system owners today. Grid adaptation is viewed as a key component to Energiewende by the DSOs, and it will be a focal point for utility investment going forward.</p>
<h4>Customers and Pricing</h4>
<p>One of the greatest criticisms of the Energiewende has been that the program has caused a significant increase in household electricity retail rates in Germany.</p>
<p>Typical residential customers have seen their rates almost double from approximately 14 eurocents in 2001 to approximately 28 eurocents in 2013. The bulk of this rate increase is the direct result of taxes and surcharges imposed specifically on the residential sector. Commercial and small industrial rates are roughly half that of residential rates. The largest energy users are mostly exempt from many of these added charges and are, in fact, paying roughly the wholesale price for energy today.</p>
<p>At first pass, this apparent "taxation" of residential customers to fund the Energiewende program seems misguided. However, upon further investigation, it appears that this cost operates as a deliberate price signal to consumers to decrease consumption - one of the three pillars of Energiewende. In fact, this arrangement has proved very successful.</p>
<p>To illustrate, the average German residential consumer uses a scant 300 kWh per month - roughly a quarter to a third of the average U.S. residential customer. Importantly, although the residential rates have increased, electricity's share of expenditures in Germany has remained relatively consistent, at approximately 2% of household spending since 1990. And while many articles have negatively capitalized on the stark increase in residential rates, overall the German public remains very supportive of the Energiewende program (see following section on Policy and Regulation). It's apparent that customers have a strong desire to move toward cleaner technologies and choices, and the utilities have failed to provide those alternatives in a timely manner.</p>
<h4>Policy and Regulation</h4>
<p>The underlying concept of Energie­wende appeared in a 1980 study and proposed that economic growth could be achieved even as energy consumption was intentionally curtailed. A plan was developed to reduce energy (through energy efficiency), move to a predominance of clean, renewable energy sources, and accomplish this through investments in a stronger, more resilient grid. The details of this plan lay out both near-, mid-, and long-term targets around climate change, renewable energy penetration, and energy efficiency.</p>
<p>It has been postulated that the total cost for the Energiewende program will exceed the cost of the reunification of East and West Germany. However, the majority of the German population perceives this will be a worthwhile expense over the long term.</p>
<p>The German citizenry is strongly supportive of Energiewende. Data provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy shared a recent poll that showed 66% supported the decision to carry out Energiewende from today's perspective. Architects of the Energiewende suggest that the right foundation has been laid for a stable future, despite the rise in residential rates and the significant financial commitment to renewables. The long-term view remains that a competitive advantage will emerge in the future as the costs of fossil fuel continue to rise. Three inter-related facts underscore this position.</p>
<p>First, Germans, as well as the European Union, believe climate change is a critical threat and addressing it is a top priority. Second, energy security is a pressing concern for a country dependent on Russian gas supply, thus strengthening the commitment to efficiency and renewables. Finally, the anti-nuclear sentiment, which began with the environmental movement and was reaffirmed by the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011, is very strong.</p>
<h4>U.S. Utility Action Items</h4>
<p>With more than two dozen utility and industry leaders in attendance, the focus for SEPA and ScottMadden was not simply to ascertain what has and hasn't occurred in Germany. Rather, the goal was to identify real, measurable action items that executives could bring back to their utility companies, which might help drive the future of the U.S. electric industry. Utilities in the U.S. are very diverse in their operations, structure, regional regulation, and constraints, such that finding specific actions which could be universally applied to all may be impossible. However, several "no regrets" directives have emerged that, if embraced, will allow the U.S. utility community to reduce its reliance on reactive policies and move toward proactive opportunities with customers.</p>
<p>While the underlying sentiments that drove the policy decisions in Germany are not as strong in the U.S., Germany's Energiewende provides a real and measurable road map against which to base the future of the U.S. utility construct and energy transaction. Taking these lessons learned and applying them now will allow the U.S. utility industry to successfully transition through the energy transformation that has begun in the U.S.</p>
<p> </p>
<h4>Germany's Energy Delivery Market</h4>
<p>Although Germany's "Big Four" utilities (E.ON, RWE, EnBW, and Vattenfall) have lost substantial market share attributable to their investments tied to conventional generation fleets, these utilities have each retained a healthy share of the transmission and distribution markets following the deregulation in 1998. Unfortunately, however, the increased returns in the energy delivery market (transmission and distribution) have not come close to offsetting the losses in generation, and deregulation allowed new entrants to enter the market space.</p>
<p>Currently, there are approximately 800 DSOs managing the delivery of power, including subsidiaries of the "Big Four" (now smaller private companies), and many municipal systems serving specific cities. The retail market also includes thriving energy cooperatives and collectives competing in that space. -<b><i>The Authors</i></b></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Category (Actual): </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/article-categories/renewables-solar-11505">Solar</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1"><a href="/article-categories/wind">Wind</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2"><a href="/article-categories/strategy-planning">Strategy &amp; Planning</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-members-only field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Viewable to All?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-featured field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Featured?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Department: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/department/energy-risk-markets">Energy Risk &amp; Markets</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-picture field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image Picture:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1411-ERM.jpg" width="1000" height="671" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-fortnightly-40 field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Fortnightly 40?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-law-lawyers field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Law &amp; Lawyers:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix">
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<a href="/tags/energiewende">Energiewende</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/german">German</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/transformation">transformation</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar">Solar</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/wind">Wind</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/residential">residential</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/incumbent">incumbent</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar-electric-power-association">Solar Electric Power Association</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sepa">SEPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/scottmadden">ScottMadden</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/dusseldorf">Dusseldorf</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/business-model">business model</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/market-capitalization">market capitalization</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/fossil0-fired">fossil0-fired</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nuclear">Nuclear</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/feed-tariff-0">feed-in tariff</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/merit-order">merit order</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/wholesale">Wholesale</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/coal">coal</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/natural-gas">Natural gas</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/distributed">distributed</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/renewable">Renewable</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/wacc">WACC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/lignite">lignite</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/eon">E.On</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/twe">TWE</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/enbw">EnBW</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/vattenfall">Vattenfall</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/photovoltaic">Photovoltaic</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pv">PV</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/saidi">SAIDI</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/interruption">interruption</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/dso">DSO</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/underground">underground</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/world-war-ii">World War II</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/grid-0">grid</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/randomized">randomized</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/stability">stability</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/climate-change">Climate change</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/security">Security</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/chernobyl">Chernobyl</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/fukushima">Fukushima</a> </div>
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Sat, 01 Nov 2014 01:00:06 +0000meacott18366 at http://www.fortnightly.comPeople (December 2013)http://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/2013/12/people-december-2013
<div class="field field-name-field-import-volume field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Magazine Volume:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Fortnightly Magazine - December 2013</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-image field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1312-PEO-Scott%20Prochazka.jpg" width="779" height="1112" alt="Scott M. Prochazka" title="Scott M. Prochazka" /></div><div class="field-item odd"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1312-PEO-Michael%20Smith.jpg" width="866" height="1200" alt="Michael L. Smith" title="Michael L. Smith" /></div><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1312-PEO-David%20Bissell.jpg" width="922" height="1200" alt="David Bissell" title="David Bissell" /></div><div class="field-item odd"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1312-PEO-James%20Robo.jpg" width="948" height="1200" alt="James L. Robo" title="James L. Robo" /></div><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1312-PEO-John%20Rowe.jpg" width="817" height="1043" alt="John Rowe" title="John Rowe" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><span class="boldred">New Opportunities: </span> <b>CenterPoint Energy</b> announced that <b>David M. McClanahan</b> will step down as president and CEO and as a member of the company’s board of directors. The board of directors named COO <b>Scott M. Prochazka</b> as McClanahan’s successor. McClanahan will remain as an officer with the company and special advisor to the CEO during the first half of 2014.</p>
<p><b>Oglethorpe Power</b> appointed <b>Michael L. Smith</b> as its new president and CEO. Since 2005, Smith has served as the president and CEO of Georgia Transmission. </p>
<p><b>Seattle City Light</b> hired <b>Michael Jones</b> as the utility’s new power supply and environmental affairs officer and general manager. Previously Jones owned his own business, CEO Focus, and also spent 12 years with The Energy Authority.</p>
<p><b>Western Area Power Administration</b> named <b>Dawn Roth Lindell</b> as chief information officer. Lindell joins Western from her position as the general manager of IT services at Colorado Springs Utilities. </p>
<p><b>CMS Energy</b> and its principal subsidiary, Consumers Energy, announced the following personnel changes in its legal department: <b>Jim Brunner</b>, currently senior v.p. and general counsel, will assume the role of chief legal counsel. <b>Cathy Reynolds</b>, currently v.p., deputy general counsel and corporate secretary, is promoted to senior v.p. and general counsel. <b>Melissa Gleespen</b> was promoted to v.p. and corporate secretary. Gleespen joined the company earlier this year as supervisory assistant general counsel.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Associations:</span><b> </b>The <b>Solar Electric Power Association</b> (SEPA) announced the election of seven new members to its board of directors and the re-election of two members to additional terms.</p>
<p>SEPA welcomed newly elected board members <b>Joseph A. Forline</b> of PSE&amp;G; <b>Bobby Hollis</b> of NV Energy; <b>John D. Hewa</b> of Pedernales Electric Cooperative; <b>Steve Malnight</b> of Pacific Gas and Electric; <b>Stephen E. Morgan</b> of American Clean Energy; <b>Micah Myers</b> of Clean Power Finance; and <b>Tim Rebhorn</b> of First Solar. SEPA also re-elected <b>Ervan Hancock</b> of Georgia Power and <b>Theresa Williams</b> of Western Area Power Administration.</p>
<p>SEPA also named <b>David Bissell</b>, CEO of <b>Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative</b> (KIUC), utility CEO of the year in SEPA’s 2013 utility awards program. </p>
<p><span class="boldred">Board of Directors:</span><b> </b><b>NextEra Energy</b><b> </b>appointed president and CEO <b>James L. Robo</b> as chairman of the board. Robo will succeed <b>Lewis Hay III</b>, who will retire as executive chairman.</p>
<p><b>NextEra Energy</b><b> </b>also<b> </b>appointed <b>Kirk S. Hachigian </b>to its board of directors. Hachigian served as chairman, president, and CEO of Cooper Industries plc.</p>
<p><b>American DG Energy</b> elected <b>John Rowe</b> to the company’s board of directors. Rowe is chairman emeritus of <b>Exelon</b>, which he has led since its formation in 2000. </p>
<p><b>Detroit Renewable Energy</b><b> </b>(DRE)<b> </b>appointed <b>Cynthia J. Pasky</b>, Strategic Staffing Solutions (S3) president and CEO, to its board of managers.</p>
<p><b>SCANA</b><b> </b>elected two new members to its board of directors: <b>Alfredo Trujillo</b>, president and COO of the Georgia Tech Foundation, and <b>John F.A.V. Cecil</b>, president of Biltmore Farms. </p>
<p><b>Piedmont Natural Gas</b> elected <b>Michael C. Tarwater</b> to the company’s board of directors. Tarwater is currently the CEO of Carolinas HealthCare System.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><i>We welcome submissions to People, especially those accompanied by a high-resolution color photograph. E-mail to: <a href="mailto:people@pur.com">people@pur.com</a>.</i></p>
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<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<a href="/tags/centerpoint">CenterPoint</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/david-m-mcclanahan">David M. McClanahan</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/scott-m-prochazka">Scott M. Prochazka</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/oglethorpe">Oglethorpe</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/michael-l-smith">Michael L. Smith</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/seattle-city-light">Seattle City Light</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/michael-jones">Michael Jones</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/western-area-power-administration">Western Area Power Administration</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/dawn-roth-lindell">Dawn Roth Lindell</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/cms-energy">CMS Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/jim-brunner">Jim Brunner</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/cathy-reynolds">Cathy Reynolds</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/melissa-gleespen">Melissa Gleespen</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar-electric-power-association">Solar Electric Power Association</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sepa">SEPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/joseph-forlline">Joseph A. Forlline</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/bobby-hollis">Bobby Hollis</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/john-d-hewa">John D. Hewa</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/steve-malnight">Steve Malnight</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/stephen-e-morgan">Stephen E. Morgan</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/micah-myers">Micah Myers</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/tim-rebhorn">Tim Rebhorn</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/rvan-hancock">Rvan Hancock</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/theresa-williams">Theresa Williams</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/david-bissell">David Bissell</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/kaua%E2%80%99i-island-utility">Kaua’I Island Utility</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/kiuc">KIUC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nextera">NextEra</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/james-l-robo">James L. Robo</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/lewis-hay">Lewis Hay</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/kirk-s-hachigian">Kirk S. Hachigian</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/american-dg-energy">American DG Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/john-rowe">John Rowe</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/exelon">Exelon</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/detroit-renewable-energy">Detroit Renewable Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/cynthia-j-pasky">Cynthia J. Pasky</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/scana">SCANA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/alfredo-trujillo">Alfredo Trujillo</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/john-fa-cecil">John F.A.. Cecil</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/piedmont-natural-gas">Piedmont Natural Gas</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/michael-c-tarwater">Michael C. Tarwater</a> </div>
</div>
Mon, 02 Dec 2013 12:28:58 +0000meacott16923 at http://www.fortnightly.comWhat Solar Success Looks Likehttp://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/2013/11/what-solar-success-looks
<div class="field field-name-field-import-deck field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Deck:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Managing the transition to a solar-powered future.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-byline field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Byline:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Julia Hamm</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-bio field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Author Bio:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><b>Julia Hamm</b> is president and CEO of SEPA, the Solar Electric Power Association.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-volume field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Magazine Volume:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Fortnightly Magazine - November 2013</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>The explosive growth of solar over the past few years caught many in the electric utility industry by surprise. The sheer amount of solar is impressive, though the 8 GW of solar installed in the U.S. today is still less than 1 percent of U.S. electricity production. What’s grabbing the attention of utilities is the potentially cascading impact of solar in decentralizing the generation of electric power delivered to the customer. </p>
<p>The single most significant development in this trend has been the proliferation of solar companies leasing customer rooftop power systems. Leveraging a combination of cheaper solar panels, tax credits, and local incentives, these companies have built a profitable business model while offering the utility customer a “no money down” means to reduce monthly utility bills. The leasing companies now compete directly with utilities for energy sales to retail customers, a relationship that the utility once owned completely. </p>
<p>The revenue erosion and possible negative impact on the utility industry is addressed in the report <i>Disruptive Challenges: Financial Implications and Strategic Responses to a Changing Retail Electric Business</i> released in January 2013 by the Edison Electric Institute. Some observers believe that the logical reaction of utilities to solar is to see it as a threat that will demand amassing their considerable power to stop. </p>
<p>We at the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) see the future playing out differently. There might be some utilities digging in their heels, but we see a growing number who recognize that accommodating more distributed, customer-based generation presents new business opportunities. Solar is the bellwether of a more customer-focused energy business in which electric utilities can be a significant and successful player. </p>
<h4>20 Percent in 20 Years</h4>
<p>There is little doubt that solar will grow into a significant resource. Two years ago, at a general session of Solar Power International, I led a discussion on the future of solar with the CEOs of six major U.S. utilities. Each CEO estimated that solar will comprise 15 to 20 percent of the generation portfolios of their companies in 20 years. </p>
<p>If solar success can be defined as a win-win-win scenario for utilities, solar companies, and consumers, what has to happen to achieve that success? </p>
<p>First, solar success will depend on resolving the question of how to equitably reward the customer who installs solar for the value of that resource, while allowing the utility to cover the costs of supplying the services necessary to the vitality of a grid that benefits all electricity consumers. </p>
<p>This is the most visible issue facing solar and utilities today, and one that SEPA is committed to playing a key role in resolving. In July we released <i>Ratemaking, Solar Value and Solar Net Energy Metering – A Primer,</i> a carefully constructed report that we offer as a critical reference for a process of developing solutions to support solar growth. </p>
<p>At the core of what has become a contentious debate is the future of net energy metering, a policy that exists in a variety of forms across most of the United States, requiring payment from the utility for excess customer solar generation. Virtually everyone agrees that net energy metering has been successful in helping solar grow. Many solar advocates and some solar companies feel that it’s critical for net metering to be maintained to support continued solar growth. Most utilities believe that customers with retail net energy metering don’t fully contribute to paying for the costs of the grid services they use, and they argue a change is required to keep the system whole. </p>
<p>Utilities aren’t alone in concern over the unintended consequences of technological change. A debate and dilemma with parallels to the net metering problem exists in transportation.</p>
<p>Owners of electric and gas-electric hybrid vehicles, similar to owners of solar systems, can be excused if they feel a bit virtuous. At added personal expense, these vehicle owners are helping lower dependence on imported oil as well as lessening air pollution. But there is a problem. Roads are built and maintained with the taxes collected on the sale of every gallon of gasoline. When electric power replaces gasoline, less money comes in to state and federal road funds. </p>
<p>Solutions are being sought but with limited success. Virginia and Washington now charge a fee to electric and hybrid cars to make up for the lost tax revenue, and other states expect to follow suit. Is this a fair “true-up” or an unfair penalty on drivers who are “doing the right thing”? Is the proposal in Oregon to charge an annual road usage fee based on vehicle miles driven a better resolution, provided an acceptable means of measuring that use is developed? </p>
<p>Electric and hybrid vehicles are hardly the only reason roads funds have been depleted. But meeting basic infrastructure costs, whether highways or the electric grid, will require adjustments in how payments are made as technology options evolve. </p>
<p>The second factor in solar success is a continued decline in the price of installing solar. </p>
<p>The falling price of equipment and installation has fueled the tremendous growth of solar energy. Today, the cost of utility-scale PV averages close to $2 per watt installed, and output is priced between 7 to 12 cents/kWh. A homeowner is typically able to install PV for an average cost of $3.90-$5.90 per watt. In some regions of the country, this equates to a per-kWh cost that’s not far above the average rate for retail electricity; in Hawaii, solar is now cheaper. </p>
<p>One of the key financing mechanisms available today is the 30-percent investment tax credit (ITC), which after 2016 will fall to 10 percent. Continuing the trend to greater affordability of solar – which will benefit all participants from the largest utility to the homeowner – will require adapting to this change in the ITC as well as reducing the so-called “soft costs” of solar – the price of customer acquisition, permitting, interconnection, and labor.</p>
<p>A third factor affecting solar growth is the development of software and hardware tools and energy storage to effectively manage solar on the grid. </p>
<p>A vibrant solar industry depends upon a robust, secure, and reliable electric grid. But that grid needs to evolve to effectively accommodate solar and other distributed generation, the development of microgrids, and a growing emphasis on greater grid resiliency. Utilities are in the natural position to own and manage the tools that can capture additional value from solar while strengthening the grid and ensuring the reliability and safety customers are accustomed to receiving. Active management of solar, and the addition of distributed storage in various forms, can supply valuable services – such as reactive power from inverters, improved outage restoration, and better management of power quality and peak demand. </p>
<p>Finally, solar success hinges on mainstreaming new revenue models and business partnerships to result in more cost-effective solar delivered to the customer. </p>
<p>Decentralizing power production and delivery will bring more competition to utilities and at the same time will put utilities in a position to provide new energy services. It will also expand the opportunity for utilities to partner with non-utility companies in a range of solar services. Some U.S. utilities envision business scenarios in which they own and operate smart inverters and communications at the customer site while other providers own the solar generation. The solar franchise model launched by the utility Enel in Italy, with hundreds of local installers, is being proposed as an option for the United States. And partnerships in distributed solar aggregation between utilities and solar companies, combined with forecasting, could turn dispersed solar into a managed and predictable utility-scale resource that can be sold into regional power markets.</p>
<p>There are bumps in every road, and many would say that the growing influx of distributed solar is leading the electric utility sector into a particularly bumpy stretch. But collaboration between utilities, regulators, solar providers, and customers will lead to the development of new regulatory compacts, rate structures, business models, and partnerships that benefit all. Solar success will mean that the electric utility industry is more technologically dynamic and more customer responsive than at any time in history.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Category (Actual): </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/article-categories/renewables-solar-11505">Solar</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1"><a href="/article-categories/strategy-planning">Strategy &amp; Planning</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2"><a href="/article-categories/energy-policy-legislation">Energy Policy &amp; Legislation</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-members-only field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Viewable to All?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-featured field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Featured?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Department: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/department/op-ed">Op-Ed</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-picture field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image Picture:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1311-OPED2.jpg" width="1500" height="1181" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-fortnightly-40 field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Fortnightly 40?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-law-lawyers field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Law &amp; Lawyers:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<a href="/tags/decentralizing">Decentralizing</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/rooftop">rooftop</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar-panel">solar panel</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/tax-credit">tax credit</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/incentive">incentive</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/edison-electric-institute">Edison Electric Institute</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/distributed">distributed</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/customer-based">customer-based</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/net-energy">net energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/metering">metering</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sepa">SEPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar-electric-power-association">Solar Electric Power Association</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/unintended-consequences">unintended consequences</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/virginia">Virginia</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/washington">Washington</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/electric">electric</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/hybrid">hybrid</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/tax-revenue">tax revenue</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/road-usage">road usage</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/investment-tax-credit">Investment tax credit</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/itc">ITC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/microgrid">Microgrid</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/inverter">inverter</a> </div>
</div>
Sun, 03 Nov 2013 01:33:06 +0000meacott16874 at http://www.fortnightly.comPeople (November 2012)http://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/2012/11/people-november-2012
<div class="field field-name-field-import-category field-type-text field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Category:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">People</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-volume field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Magazine Volume:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Fortnightly Magazine - November 2012</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-image field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1211-peo-Roderick.jpg" width="1052" height="1398" alt="Danny Roderick" title="Danny Roderick" /></div><div class="field-item odd"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1211-peo-Crosswhite.jpg" width="407" height="555" alt="Mark Crosswhite" title="Mark Crosswhite" /></div><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1211-peo-Kiraly.jpg" width="1060" height="1368" alt="Greg Kiraly" title="Greg Kiraly" /></div><div class="field-item odd"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1211-peo-rasmussen.jpg" width="1094" height="1293" alt="Steve Rasmussen" title="Steve Rasmussen" /></div><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1211-peo-Leonard.jpg" width="1056" height="1311" alt="J. Wayne Leonard" title="J. Wayne Leonard" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><span class="boldred">New Opportunities:</span><b> Westinghouse Electric </b>appointed <b>Danny Roderick</b> as president and CEO, succeeding Shigenori Shiga, who had served as interim president and CEO since April. Roderick was senior vice president at GE Hitachi Nuclear, and before that was vice president of nuclear projects at Progress Energy Florida. Before joining Progress he spent 13 years in plant operations and engineering with Entergy Nuclear.</p>
<p><b>Jon Taylor</b>, assistant controller at FirstEnergy Solutions (FES) and FirstEnergy Generation, was promoted to v.p. and assistant controller for <b>FirstEnergy</b>. <b>Kelley Mendenhall</b>, v.p. finance at FES, was named v.p. strategy and planning. <b>Trent Smith</b>, regional president, Cleveland Electric Illuminating (CEI), was named v.p., sales and marketing, FES. <b>Don Moul</b>, regional president, Ohio Edison, has been named v.p., commodity operations, FES.</p>
<p><b>Raymond A. Lieb</b>, currently director of site operations at FirstEnergy’s Beaver Valley nuclear station, was promoted to site v.p. of Davis-Besse. Lieb replaces <b>Barry Allen</b>, who accepted a position at Pacific Gas &amp; Electric. </p>
<p><b>Pacific Gas and Electric </b>(PG&amp;E) promoted <b>Greg Kiraly</b> from v.p. of electric distribution operations to senior v.p.</p>
<p><b>ITC Holdings </b>hired <b>Kristine Schmidt</b> as the company’s v.p. and president of ITC Great Plains. Schmidt joins ITC from ESPY Energy Solutions.</p>
<p><b>Pepco Holdings</b> appointed <b>Kevin C. Fitzgerald</b> as executive v.p. and general counsel. Most recently he was executive partner at Troutman Sanders.</p>
<p><b>PPL </b>named <b>Jaime Bohnke</b> as head of supply chain and procurement. Most recently, he was a v.p. for Tyco International.</p>
<p><b>Brenda Boultwood </b>joined<b> MetricSteam’s</b> executive team as the v.p. of industry solutions. Most recently, she served as senior v.p. and chief risk officer at Constellation Energy (now Exelon).</p>
<p><b>Dominion </b>made changes within its officer ranks: <b>Shannon L. Venable</b>, v.p. financial management - generation was named v.p. information technology; <b>Thomas R. Bean</b>, v.p. financial analysis - alternative energy solutions, succeeds Venable; <b>Patricia G. Shell</b>, v.p. &amp; general auditor, succeeds Bean; and <b>Michele L. Cardiff</b>, controller-generation accounting, succeeds Shell.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Associations: </span>The<b> Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)</b> appointed <b>Mark Crosswhite</b>, COO of Southern Company, to its board of directors.</p>
<p>The<b> National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives </b>(NAPSR) named <b>Hans Mertens</b> as its new administrative manager. Previously, Mertens was the director of engineering services and chief engineer for the Vermont Department of Public Service.</p>
<p>The<b> Solar Electric Power Association </b>(SEPA) selected five new members to its board of directors: <b>Holly Gordon</b> of Sunrun, <b>Jurgen Krehnke</b> of SMA Solar Technology AG, <b>Lori Singleton</b> of Salt River Project, <b>Cris Eugster </b>of CPS Energy, and <b>Matt Ferguson</b> of the Reznick Group.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Boards of Directors: </span><b>American Electric Power</b> elected <b>Steve Rasmussen</b>, CEO of Nationwide, to its board.</p>
<p><b>Dominion’s </b>board of directors elected a new director, <b>Michael E.</b><b>Szymanczyk</b>. Previously, he served as chairman and CEO of Altria Group.</p>
<p><b>Pepco Holdings</b> appointed <b>H. Russell Frisby Jr.</b> to its board of directors. Frisby is a partner at Stinson Morrison Hecker.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Retirements: </span><b>J. Wayne Leonard</b>, chairman and CEO at <b>Entergy</b>, plans to retire on Jan. 31, 2013. <b>Leo Denault</b>, current executive v.p. and CFO, was elected to succeed Leonard. <b>Andrew Marsh</b>, currently v.p., system planning, will succeed Denault.</p>
<p>Also retiring from Entergy in January is <b>Richard Smith, </b>president of wholesale commodities. <b>William Mohl</b>, previously chairman, president and CEO of <b>Entergy Louisiana</b> and <b>Entergy Gulf States Louisiana</b>, will succeed Smith.</p>
<p><i>We welcome submissions to People, especially those accompanied by a high-resolution color photograph. E-mail to: <a href="mailto:people@pur.com">people@pur.com</a>.</i></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Category (Actual): </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/article-categories/people">People</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-members-only field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Viewable to All?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-featured field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Featured?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Department: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/department/people">People</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-fortnightly-40 field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Fortnightly 40?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-law-lawyers field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Law &amp; Lawyers:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<a href="/tags/westinghouse-electric">Westinghouse Electric</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/danny-roderick">Danny Roderick</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ge-hitachi">GE Hitachi</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/progress-energy">Progress Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/jon-taylor">Jon Taylor</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/firstenergy">FirstEnergy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/fes">FES</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/mendenhall">Mendenhall</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/smith">Smith</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/cleveland">Cleveland</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/cei">CEI</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/don-moul">Don Moul</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ohio-edison">Ohio Edison</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/raymond-live">Raymond A. Live</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/barry-allen">Barry Allen</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pacific-gas-electric">Pacific Gas &amp; Electric</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pge">PG&amp;E</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/greg-kiraly">Greg Kiraly</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/itc">ITC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/kristine-schmidt">Kristine Schmidt</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pepco">PEPCO</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/kevin-c-fitzgerald">Kevin C. Fitzgerald</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/troutman-sanders">Troutman Sanders</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ppl">PPL</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/jaime-bohnke">Jaime Bohnke</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/brenda-boultwood">Brenda Boultwood</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/metricsteam">MetricSteam</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/exelon">Exelon</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/dominion">Dominion</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/shannon-l-venable">Shannon L. Venable</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/thomas-r-bean">Thomas R. Bean</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/patricia-g-shall">Patricia G. Shall</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/michele-l-cardiff">Michele L. Cardiff</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/electric-power-research-institute">Electric Power Research Institute</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/epri">EPRI</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/mark-crosswhite-0">Mark Crosswhite</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/national-association-pipeline-safety-representatives">National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/napsr">NAPSR</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/hans-mertens">Hans Mertens</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/vermont-department-public-service">Vermont Department of Public Service</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar-electric-power-association">Solar Electric Power Association</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sepa">SEPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/holly-gordon">Holly Gordon</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sunrun">Sunrun</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/jurgen-krehnke">Jurgen Krehnke</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sma-solar-technology">SMA Solar Technology</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/lori-singleton">Lori Singleton</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/slat-riber-project">Slat Riber Project</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/cris-eugster">Cris Eugster</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/cps-energy">CPS Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/matt-ferguson">Matt Ferguson</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/reznick-group">Reznick Group</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/american-electric-power">American Electric Power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/steve-rasmusssen">Steve Rasmusssen</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/michael-e-szymanczyk">Michael E. Szymanczyk</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/h-russell-frisby">H. Russell Frisby</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/j-wayne-leonard">J. Wayne Leonard</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/entergy">Entergy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/leo-denault">Leo Denault</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/andre-marsh">Andre Marsh</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/richard-smith">Richard Smith</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/william-mohl">William Mohl</a> </div>
</div>
Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:49:39 +0000puradmin16344 at http://www.fortnightly.comPeople (July 2012)http://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/2012/07/people-july-2012
<div class="field field-name-field-import-category field-type-text field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Category:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">People</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-volume field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Magazine Volume:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Fortnightly Magazine - July 2012</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><span class="boldred">New Opportunities:</span><b> Southern Company</b> announced changes in the company’s management team. <b>Mark A. Crosswhite</b>, current president and CEO of Gulf Power, will become executive v.p. and COO for Southern Company. Crosswhite assumes the role vacated by <b>Anthony J. Topazi</b>, who plans to retire. <b>Stanley W. Connally Jr.</b> will replace Crosswhite as president and CEO of Gulf Power. <b>John L. Pemberton</b>, previously v.p. of governmental affairs, will succeed Connally as senior v.p. and senior production officer of generation at Georgia Power. <b>Leigh Davis Perry</b>, v.p. of charitable giving for Alabama Power and president of the Alabama Power Foundation, will replace Pemberton as senior v.p. and general counsel for Southern Company operations and Southern Nuclear.</p>
<p><b>Great Plains Energy</b> and <b>Kansas City Power &amp; Light </b>(KCP&amp;L) appointed <b>Scott Heidtbrink </b>as executive v.p. and COO of KCP&amp;L and greater Missouri operations. Heidtbrink, who was senior v.p. of supply, replaces <b>Terry Bassham</b>, who earlier this year became president and CEO. The companies also named <b>Michael Deggendorf</b> senior v.p. of corporate services. Deggendorf, who was senior v.p. of delivery, now will oversee the company’s new transmission partnership, Transource. Also,<b> Kevin Noblet</b>, senior director of renewables and gas generation, was promoted to v.p. of generation.</p>
<p><b>NV Energy</b> announced two senior leadership appointments. CFO <b>Dilek Samil</b> was named executive v.p. and COO. <b>Jonathan S. Halkyard</b> joined the company as executive v.p. and CFO. Previously, Halkyard was executive v.p. and CFO for Caesars Entertainment. </p>
<p><b>Pacific Gas &amp; Electric </b>(PG&amp;E) appointed <b>Jesus Soto Jr.</b> as senior v.p. of gas transmission, operations, engineering, and pipeline integrity. Previously, he was v.p. of operations services for El Paso Corp.’s pipeline group.</p>
<p><b>American Electric Power</b> named <b>Alberto Ruocco</b> as v.p. and CIO. Ruocco was CIO of BlueStar Energy Solutions, a retail subsidiary recently acquired by AEP. Ruocco replaces Pablo A. Vegas, who became president and COO of AEP Ohio in March.</p>
<p><b>Chesapeake Utilities </b>appointed <b>Matthew M.</b><b>Kim</b> as v.p. of the company. He was assistant v.p. Also, <b>William D. Hancock</b> became assistant v.p. of <b>Peninsula Energy</b><b>Services</b>, a subsidiary of Chesapeake. Previously, he was a director of supply and risk marketing for Inergy LP.</p>
<p><b>NiSource Gas Transmission &amp; Storage</b> appointed <b>Georgia Carter </b>to the company’s leadership team as senior v.p. of rates and regulatory affairs for Columbia Gas Transmission, Columbia Gulf Transmission, and Crossroads Pipeline. Previously she was Dominion Resources’ deputy general counsel for gas transmission and distribution.</p>
<p><b>Duquesne Light Co.</b> named <b>Tishekia E. Williams</b> as senior counsel for regulatory affairs. She most recently served as Exelon’s assistant general counsel. </p>
<p><span class="boldred">Associations:</span><b>The Solar Electric Power Association</b> (SEPA) board of directors elected two of its three officer positions: <b>Ervan Hancock</b>, manager of renewable and green strategies for Georgia Power, was named vice chairman; and <b>Matthew Cheney</b>, CEO of CleanPath Ventures, became treasurer. <b>David Rubin</b>, director of service analysis for PG&amp;E, continues as chairman.</p>
<p>The <b>Electric Power Research Institute</b> (EPRI) elected <b>James H. Lash</b>—president of FirstEnergy Generation and chief nuclear officer for FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co.—to its board of directors for a one-year term.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="boldred">Boards of Directors: </span><b>Southern Company</b> elected <b>E. Jenner Wood III</b> to its board of directors. Wood currently is chairman, president, and CEO of SunTrust Bank’s Atlanta division.</p>
<p><b>Piedmont Natural Gas</b> appointed <b>Phillip D. Wright</b> to its board of directors. He was a senior v.p. for the Williams Companies.</p>
<p><b>OwnEnergy</b> appointed <b>Ron Rebenitsch</b> to the company’s board of directors. He most recently served as an executive for Basin Electric.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><i>We welcome submissions to People, especially those accompanied by a high-resolution color photograph. E-mail to: <a href="mailto:people@pur.com">people@pur.com</a>.</i></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Category (Actual): </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/article-categories/people">People</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-members-only field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Viewable to All?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-featured field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Featured?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Department: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/department/people">People</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-picture field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image Picture:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1207-cvr_2.jpg" width="1120" height="1500" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-fortnightly-40 field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Fortnightly 40?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-law-lawyers field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Law &amp; Lawyers:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<a href="/tags/southern-company">Southern Company</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/mark-crosswhite">Mark A. Crosswhite</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/gulf-power">Gulf Power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/anthony-j-topazi">Anthony J. Topazi</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/stanley-w-connally-jr">Stanley W. Connally Jr.</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/john-l-pemberton">John L. Pemberton</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/georgia-power">Georgia Power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/leigh-davis-perry">Leigh Davis Perry</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/alabama-power">Alabama Power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/southern-nuclear">Southern Nuclear</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/great-plains-energy">Great Plains Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/kansas-city-power-light">Kansas City Power &amp; Light</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/kcpl">KCP&amp;L</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/scott-heidtbrink">Scott Heidtbrink</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/terry-basham">Terry Basham</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/michael-deggendorf">Michael Deggendorf</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/transource">Transource</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/kevin-noblet">Kevin Noblet</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nv-energy">NV Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/dilek-samil">Dilek Samil</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/jonathan-s-halklyard">Jonathan S. Halklyard</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pacific-gas-elecric">Pacific Gas &amp; Elecric</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/jesus-soto-jr">Jesus Soto Jr.</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/american-electric-power">American Electric Power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/alberto-ruocco">Alberto Ruocco</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/bluestar-energy-solutions">BlueStar Energy Solutions</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/aep">AEP</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pablo-vegas">Pablo A. Vegas</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/chesapeake-utilities">Chesapeake Utilities</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/matthew-m-kim">Matthew M. Kim</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/william-d-hancock">William D. Hancock</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/peninsula-energy-services">Peninsula Energy Services</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nisource-gas-transmission-storage">NiSource Gas Transmission &amp; Storage</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/georgia-carter">Georgia Carter</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/duquesne-light-co">Duquesne Light Co.</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/tishekia-e-williams">Tishekia E. Williams</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar-electric-power-association">Solar Electric Power Association</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sepa">SEPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ervan-hancock">Ervan Hancock</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/matthew-cheney">Matthew Cheney</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/cleanpath-ventures">CleanPath Ventures</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/david-rubin">David Rubin</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pge">PG&amp;E</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/electric-power-research-institute">Electric Power Research Institute</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/epri">EPRI</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/james-h-lash">James H. Lash</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/firstenergy">FirstEnergy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/e-jenner-wood-iii">E. Jenner Wood III</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/suntrust-0">SunTrust</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/piedmont-natural-gas">Piedmont Natural Gas</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/phillip-d">Phillip D</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/wright">Wright</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ownenergy">OwnEnergy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ron-rebenitsch">Ron Rebenitsch</a> </div>
</div>
Sun, 01 Jul 2012 04:00:00 +0000puradmin14650 at http://www.fortnightly.comVendor Neutralhttp://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/2011/06/vendor-neutral
<div class="field field-name-field-import-category field-type-text field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Category:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Vendor Neutral</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-volume field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Magazine Volume:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Fortnightly Magazine - June 2011</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-image field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1106-VENpic1.jpg" width="1200" height="800" alt="ABB is investing $90 million to build a new high-voltage cable factory in Huntersville, N.C." title="ABB is investing $90 million to build a new high-voltage cable factory in Huntersville, N.C." /></div><div class="field-item odd"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1106-VENpic2.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="Survalent Technology commissioned a new SCADA system for the Golden Spread Electric Cooperative Antelope Station. Antelope Station is a gas-fired power plant with 18 9-MW gensets capable of generating about 170 MW, allowing the plant to quickly respond to regional capacity requirements.The SCADA system includes Survalent’s open system applications." title="Survalent Technology commissioned a new SCADA system for the Golden Spread Electric Cooperative Antelope Station. Antelope Station is a gas-fired power plant with 18 9-MW gensets capable of generating about 170 MW, allowing the plant to quickly respond to regional capacity requirements.The SCADA system includes Survalent’s open system applications." /></div><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1106-VENpic3.jpg" width="1008" height="692" alt="Dynamic Solar completed a 250-kW solar system in Philadelphia, Pa., for the Philadelphia Water Department. Dynamic Solar teamed with CETCO Contracting Services and Nucero Electric to design, engineer and install the 250-kW ground mounted system. The array is located at the Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant and is expected to generate approximately 330,000 kWh of solar electricity per year." title="Dynamic Solar completed a 250-kW solar system in Philadelphia, Pa., for the Philadelphia Water Department. Dynamic Solar teamed with CETCO Contracting Services and Nucero Electric to design, engineer and install the 250-kW ground mounted system. The array is located at the Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant and is expected to generate approximately 330,000 kWh of solar electricity per year." /></div><div class="field-item odd"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1105-VENpic4.jpg" width="730" height="547" alt="Chevron Mining Inc. recently began operating a 1-MW concentrating solar photovoltaic (CPV) power plant at the tailing site of its molybdenum mine in Questa, N.M. The 20-acre facility includes 172 solar trackers. Kit Carson Electric Cooperative is buying the output under a power purchase agreement." title="Chevron Mining Inc. recently began operating a 1-MW concentrating solar photovoltaic (CPV) power plant at the tailing site of its molybdenum mine in Questa, N.M. The 20-acre facility includes 172 solar trackers. Kit Carson Electric Cooperative is buying the output under a power purchase agreement." /></div><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1105-VENpic5.jpg" width="922" height="1143" alt="Caithness Energy and GE Energy Financial Services sold part of the 845-MW Shepherds Flat wind project to Google, ITOCHU and Sumitomo." title="Caithness Energy and GE Energy Financial Services sold part of the 845-MW Shepherds Flat wind project to Google, ITOCHU and Sumitomo." /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h4>T&amp;D</h4>
<p><span class="boldred">ABB</span> broke ground for a new high-voltage cable factory in Huntersville, N.C. The new facility, located at the Commerce Station Business Park, will supply high-voltage and extra high-voltage transmission cables to carry electric power underground. ABB says the factory will produce “smart grid-compliant cables,” for use in both AC and DC applications. ABB is investing approximately $90 million in the new manufacturing facility, which is the newest addition to Charlotte’s Energy Hub economic development initiative.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">ABB</span> launched its latest generation 245-kV ELK-14 series of gas insulated switchgear (GIS). ABB says the footprint of this latest GIS product is 40 percent smaller than conventional designs and it uses 20 percent less SF6 gas compared to the previous generation, making it more environmentally friendly. The unit can be delivered as an assembled bay, fully tested and mounted on a frame, which ABB says reduces installation time. Control and protection equipment installed in the control cubicle directly at the bay also is intended to enable smart grid integration. The systems were designed for a rated voltage of 253 kV, with a maximum current rating of 3,150 amps.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Duke Energy</span> and <span class="boldred">American Transmission Co.</span> (ATC) created the Duke-American Transmission Co. (DATC), a joint venture that will build, own and operate new electric transmission infrastructure in North America. The joint venture will operate as a transmission utility. As a result, it will be subject to the rules and regulations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, MISO, PJM and various other independent system (grid) operators, as well as any states in which DATC develops projects. Per the structure of their new joint venture, Duke Energy and ATC may continue to develop transmission projects independently. DATC will own all of the transmission assets it builds and operates. Equity ownership of DATC will be split equally between Duke Energy and ATC.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Tres Amigas</span> awarded a $200 million contract to <span class="boldred">Alstom Grid</span> to deliver high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) converter and automation technology for the first stage of the Tres Amigas SuperStation project in New Mexico. The project aims to interconnect America’s three primary electricity grids, the Eastern (Southwest Power Pool), Western (Western Electricity Coordinating Council) and Texas (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) networks. Under the contract, Alstom Grid will supply a 750-MW, 345-kV DC converter scheme. Engineering design for the transmission interconnection is underway, with construction scheduled to commence by 2012, and commercial operations expected in 2014.</p>
<h4>Environmental</h4>
<p><span class="boldred">American Electric Power</span> (AEP) installed <span class="boldred">GE</span>’s ABMet wastewater bioreactor system at the utility’s Mountaineer coal-fueled power plant in New Haven, W.Va. The proprietary biological treatment system uses a special molasses-based product as a nutrient for microbes that reduce selenium, a constituent found in many coal-fired power plant water emissions. GE’s ABMet technology utilizes special strains of common, non-pathogenic microbes that facilitate conversion of soluble selenium into elemental selenium, which is removed from the system during periodic backwashing. The microbes, which are fed the molasses-based nutrient, are seeded in a bed of activated carbon that acts as a growth medium for the microbes to create a biofilm. Selenium-laden wastewater passes through this bioreactor and a reduction reaction occurs. Other than the addition of the nutrient, GE says the system will be self-sustaining once it’s established. Selenium is an element found in coal that is not consumed in the combustion process and typically can be found in several of a plant’s post-combustion waste streams. AEP is installing GE’s system to allow its 1,300-MW Mountaineer generating station to comply with a new discharge limit for selenium. Construction of AEP’s treatment facility began in July 2010. The system is scheduled to become operational by the end of 2011.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">TÜV SÜD America</span> announced that the <span class="boldred">Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection</span> (MassDEP) approved the Massachusetts-based company as a verification body to provide verification services for the Massachusetts Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Program. The Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) required MassDEP to promulgate mandatory GHG reporting regulations.</p>
<h4>Smart Grid</h4>
<p><span class="boldred">ABB</span> won orders from <span class="boldred">CenterPoint Energy</span> for the latest Service Suite mobile workforce management software from Ventyx and for the FocalPoint business intelligence solution from ABB’s latest acquisition, Obvient. These will be integrated into CenterPoint’s advanced distribution automation system, based on ABB’s Network Manager distribution management system (DMS).</p>
<p>The governing board of the public-private <span class="boldred">Smart Grid Interoperability Panel</span> (SGIP) voted in favor of a new smart grid standard and a set of guidelines. The documents address the need for wireless communications among grid-connected devices, as well as the ability to upgrade household electricity meters as the smart grid evolves. The SGIP identified “Guidelines for Assessing Wireless Communications for Smart Grid Applications” and “Meter Upgradeability Standard” as critical needs for realizing a modern power grid.</p>
<h4>Generation</h4>
<p><span class="boldred">Survalent Technology</span> commissioned a new SCADA system for the Golden Spread Electric Cooperative Antelope Station. Antelope Station is a gas-fired power plant with 18 9-MW gensets capable of generating about 170 MW, allowing the plant to quickly respond to regional capacity requirements.The SCADA system includes Survalent’s open system applications.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Dynamic Solar</span> completed a 250-kW solar system in Philadelphia, Pa., for the Philadelphia Water Department. Dynamic Solar teamed with CETCO Contracting Services and Nucero Electric to design, engineer and install the 250-kW ground mounted system. The array is located at the Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant and is expected to generate approximately 330,000 kWh of solar electricity per year.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Chevron Mining Inc.</span> recently began operating a 1-MW concentrating solar photovoltaic (CPV) power plant at the tailing site of its molybdenum mine in Questa, N.M. The 20-acre facility includes 172 solar trackers. Kit Carson Electric Cooperative is buying the output under a power purchase agreement.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Dominion Virginia Power</span> is planning to convert three 63-MW power stations from using coal to biomass. The power stations in Altavista, Hopewell and Southampton County are identical and went into operation in 1992, providing peaking power supplies. When converted, they would generate 50 MW each, but operate as a base-load resource. The facilities will be fueled with logging waste. Pending approvals from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia State Corporation Commission, the facilities could begin burning biomass in 2013.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">NextEra Energy Resources</span> entered a power purchase agreement with <span class="boldred">Google Energy</span> to purchase 100.8 MW of capacity from NextEra Energy Resources’ Minco II Wind Energy Center, currently under development in Grady and Caddo counties in Oklahoma. The project is comprised of 63 GE 1.6-MW wind turbines and is expected to be operational by the end of 2011. This is the second power purchase agreement for wind energy between the two companies. Google Energy also purchases 114 MW from NextEra Energy Resources’ Story II Wind Energy Center located in Story and Hardin counties in Iowa.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Fotowatio Renewable Ventures</span> (FRV) closed financing and began construction on the 30-MW Webberville solar project, one of the largest solar PV systems in the United States. The project, located near Austin, Texas, is scheduled to be operational by year-end. <span class="boldred">Renewable Energy Systems Americas</span> (RES Americas) was selected to construct the project and provide operations and maintenance services for five years. Austin Energy will buy the plant’s output under a 25-year power purchase agreement. FRV partnered with Bayerische Landesbank (BayernLB), which underwrote the project construction debt. The project will use crystalline 270-Watt photovoltaic modules from Trina Solar.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">The Solar Electric Power Association</span> (SEPA) announced five utility groups have joined SEPA: American Municipal Power (AMP); City of Lake Worth, Fla.; Central Hudson Gas &amp; Electric (CH Energy Group); Greenwood Utilities Commission; South Mississippi Electric Power Association. SEPA says its utility membership now represents more than 95 percent of the nation’s installed solar capacity and 47 percent of all U.S. electric customers.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Solar Power Partners</span> (SPP) and <span class="boldred">JCM Capital</span> have signed an agreement with <span class="boldred">Solar Power Network</span> (SPN), to provide full project financing for up to 20 MW of commercial-scale rooftop installations to be located throughout southwestern Ontario. The agreement follows the recent Solar Power Partners and JCM Capital announcement on the launch of their fund to develop, finance, own, and operate 200 MW of solar projects in Ontario. The SPN contract brings the current fund volume to 50 MW. SPP and JCM have already initiated 20 MW of projects that will start construction in 2011. The fund focuses on the installation of solar projects on large commercial and industrial buildings across Ontario, using the province’s feed-in-tariff program via solar PPAs with the Ontario Power Authority.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Boeing</span> and <span class="boldred">South Carolina Electric &amp; Gas</span> (SCE&amp;G) created an energy partnership that will enable Boeing South Carolina to operate as a 100 percent renewable energy site. Renewable energy will be generated at the North Charleston site in part with thin-film solar laminate panels owned, installed and maintained by SCE&amp;G on the new Boeing 787 Final Assembly building roof. Under the arrangement, SCE&amp;G will install the solar generation system and dedicate the power from the system to the Boeing site. SCE&amp;G will then supplement the solar generated energy with power from its system resources, coupled with renewable energy certificates from its renewable generating facility, to meet all of Boeing’s energy requirements.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Constellation Energy</span> and <span class="boldred">Holyoke Gas &amp; Electric Department (HG&amp;E)</span> are developing a new 4.5-MW solar installation that will generate electricity for Holyoke. Constellation Energy will build, own and maintain the system, and HG&amp;E will purchase the output under a 20-year PPA at a fixed cost that Constellation says is less than projected market rates. HG&amp;E’s solar power system will include 18,400 SolarWorld photovoltaic ground-mounted panels at two locations. The system is scheduled for commercial operation in summer 2011.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Hartz Solar Hamilton</span>, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hartz Mountain Industries, selected <span class="boldred">RMT Inc.</span> to design and construct its Hamilton solar project. The facility, nominally rated at 7.5 MW AC, is located in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, N.J. RMT says it will begin construction in June, with commissioning in November. RMT is responsible for engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of the foundations and racking systems, the PV modules, the DC and AC collector systems, the SCADA system, and testing and commissioning. The project will involve installation of more than 30,000 Suntech 280-Watt crystalline PV modules.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">The California Public Utilities Commission</span> (CPUC) approved <span class="boldred">Pacific Gas &amp; Electric</span>’s 20-year contract to purchase 150 MW of solar power from <span class="boldred">Sempra Generation</span>’s Mesquite Solar 1 PV power facility in Arizona. Mesquite Solar 1 is the first phase of Sempra Generation’s planned 700-MW Mesquite Solar complex located 40 miles west of Phoenix. With approval of the contract secured, the company plans to begin construction in June.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">San Diego Gas &amp; Electric (SDG&amp;E)</span> and subsidiaries of <span class="boldred">Soitec Solar Development</span> signed three contracts with a combined capacity of 30 MW of solar energy. The electricity will be generated at three solar power plant sites in San Diego County that will use Soitec CPV modules to be manufactured in a new factory being built in the San Diego area. The contracts require approval from the California Public Utilities Commission.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">San Diego Gas &amp; Electric (SDG&amp;E)</span> entered a 20-year contract for up to 156 MW of power supplied from the first phase of Sempra Generation’s Energía Sierra Juárez wind project in Baja California, Mexico. Both SDG&amp;E and Sempra Generation are subsidiaries of Sempra Energy. SDG&amp;E selected Energía Sierra Juárez as part of the utility’s 2009 competitive solicitation for renewable resources. The project was compared to other competitive bids, and the process was overseen by an independent evaluator, as required by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The contract is subject to approval by the CPUC and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Construction on Energía Sierra Juárez 1, about 70 miles east of San Diego and just south of the U.S.-Mexico border, is expected to begin in 2012.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Ocean Power Technologies</span> (OPT) awarded four contracts to Oregon companies in connection with the manufacturing of its PB150 PowerBuoy wave energy generating device. The four companies receiving contracts are: American Bridge Manufacturing, Oregon Iron Works, Cascade General (a subsidiary of Vigor Industrial), and Sause Bros. Inc. After the initial PowerBuoy is deployed and tested off the coast of Reedsport, expected later this year, OPT plans to construct the first commercial-scale wave power station in the United States, consisting of up to nine additional PowerBuoys and grid connection infrastructure, subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and additional funding.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Areva Solar</span> was awarded a major contract to install a 44-MW solar thermal augmentation project at a 750-MW coal-fired power station in Queensland, Australia. Areva says the project is the largest solar project in the Southern Hemisphere and the world’s largest solar power augmentation project at a coal-fired facility. Areva Solar will use its Australian-pioneered compact linear Fresnel reflector (CLFR) technology at CS Energy’s Kogan Creek Power Station. Construction is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2011, with commercial operation planned for 2013.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Sempra Generation</span> entered a 20-year contract to sell 21 MW of wind energy to <span class="boldred">Maui Electric Company</span> from the Auwahi Wind project on the Ulupalakua Ranch in the southeastern region of Maui. The project is currently undergoing environmental review by Maui County, and state and federal agencies. Construction is expected to begin in early 2012.</p>
<h4>DR and Customer Systems</h4>
<p><span class="boldred">Baltimore Gas and Electric</span> (BGE) selected Opower’s Advanced Customer Engagement (ACE) platform as the front-end solution for its upcoming smart meter rollout. Opower’s ACE platform takes individual and neighborhood energy-usage data and transforms it into personalized reports that help customers understand their own energy usage more clearly. The reports also offer advice on ways to reduce energy use, helping customers lower their gas and electricity bills.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Con Edison</span> added Apogee’s online tools to its website, <a href="http://www.conEd.com">www.conEd.com</a>, as part of its “The Power of Green” campaign, to help customers evaluate their energy use and find ways to save on their energy costs. The Energy Toolkit provides answers to energy questions; the HomeEnergyCalculator analyzes the customer’s energy use and makes recommendations for savings; and specialized calculators allow customers to run what-if scenarios on the use of lighting, appliances, TVs, and thermostat settings.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">GreenHouse Holdings</span> announced a partnership with <span class="boldred">EnergyConnect</span>. Together, the companies will offer customers integrated energy management and automated demand response (auto-DR) services. Under the terms of the agreement, GreenHouse will offer its auto-DR services to EnergyConnect’s customers, and EnergyConnect will market its products to Greenhouse’s customer base.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">SavWatt USA</span> subsidiary <span class="boldred">Pro EcoSolutions</span> entered a non-exclusive agreement with <span class="boldred">Comverge</span> and <span class="boldred">Con Edison</span> to implement their targeted demand side management program, which offers incentives for upgrading to more energy efficient equipment. Pro EcoSolutions will work with New York City businesses to replace existing incandescent bulbs, subsidize the cost of lighting, and administer the installation. Con Edison will be paying Pro EcoSolutions 65 cents per Watt saved.</p>
<h4>Metering</h4>
<p><span class="boldred">Kansas City Board of Public Utilites</span> (KCBPU) selected <span class="boldred">Elster</span> for the utility’s smart grid deployment. KCBPU will implement Elster’s EnergyAxis to streamline business and operational processes. The municipal utility plans to deploy more than 69,000 of Elster’s smart electric meters and 55,000 Elster smart water meters over the next few years.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Comision Federal de Electricidad</span> (CFE) selected <span class="boldred">Elster</span>’s EnergyAxis smart grid solution to power the utility’s first advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) project in Mexico City. The Mexican Secretaria de Energia (SENER) and CFE will use the EnergyAxis pilot as a benchmark for evaluating Elster’s technologies for potential future deployments. CFE has already deployed nine other EnergyAxis systems throughout 14 of Mexico’s 16 service areas.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">BC Hydro</span> awarded a $270 million contract to <span class="boldred">Itron</span> to supply smart metering and meter data management systems. Itron will provide its OpenWay smart meters, run over a multi-application communication network powered by Cisco.</p>
<h4>EVs and Storage</h4>
<p><span class="boldred">Duke Energy</span> plans to store electricity generated at its Notrees Windpower project in west Texas using an energy storage and power management system developed by Austin-based <span class="boldred">Xtreme Power</span>. Duke Energy will work with the Energy Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to integrate the wind power and battery storage system into the state’s independent power grid. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) will advise the project team, collect data and help assess the potential for broader adoption of energy storage solutions throughout the industry. Duke Energy is targeting an in-service date for the battery storage system by late 2012.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Siemens Energy</span> was commissioned to install five multi-level electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to support Loudoun County, Va.’s new commuter park-and-ride lot in Scott Jenkins Memorial Park. Siemens multi-level charging stations are designed for public outdoor applications. The stations deliver Level II charging and Level I charging through two separate outputs, which can deliver energy simultaneously. Siemens’ EV charging stations will be equipped with connectivity via the ChargePoint Network, which allows access to all manufacturers of vehicle charging stations, provides station monitoring and driver support, and mobile apps for station status and charging notifications. The stations were scheduled to be installed at the Loudoun County park in May 2011.</p>
<p>The <span class="boldred">EA Technology Group</span> collaborated with <span class="boldred">Energetix Pnu Power</span> to market compressed air batteries worldwide. Headquartered close to Energetix Pnu Power in Capenhurst, U.K., EA Technology will use its network of offices in the United States, China, Middle East and Australia, together with 35 distribution partners, to develop sales of Pnu Power products in a range of power backup and uninterruptible power supply applications. These include utility switching, industrial processes and data centers.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Newmark Energy Solutions</span> (NES) formed strategic relationships with <span class="boldred">UTC Power Corp.</span> (UTC), <span class="boldred">Newmark Knight Frank</span>, and <span class="boldred">Austin Energy Partners Solutions</span> (AEP) to market, deliver, maintain and warranty fuel cells to commercial real estate markets across the United States. NES distributes UTC Power stationary fuel-cell units in the United States, and plans to permit, design, finance, construct, and operate a fleet of UTC fuel cells, installing 20 MW of capacity each year. Under the strategic relationship with Newmark Energy Solutions, UTC will provide fuel-cell product and support, while Newmark brings commercial real estate resources and expertise. AEP is expected to provide risk management expertise.</p>
<h4>People</h4>
<p><span class="boldred">SightLogix</span> appointed <span class="boldred">Jack Tomarchio</span> to its board of directors. Tomarchio is a former deputy secretary for intelligence and analysis operations under Pres. George W. Bush. Before that Tomarchio practiced law with an expertise in national security issues. He recently retired as a colonel from the United States Army Reserve where his last assignment was with the United States Special Operations Command.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Ross Malme</span> joined <span class="boldred">Skipping Stone</span> as a partner and member of the board of directors as an equity owner. Malme previously held executive-level roles with Schneider Electric’s demand response resource center, Enron Energy Services, Schlumberger and Chevron. Ross was also the founder and CEO of RETX, a demand response technology firm, which has since been acquired by Schneider Electric. He served as chairman of Peak Load Management Alliance (PLMA) and formed a global demand response initiative in conjunction with the International Energy Agency (IEA).</p>
<h4>M&amp;A</h4>
<p><span class="boldred">Google</span> and subsidiaries of <span class="boldred">ITOCHU</span> and <span class="boldred">Sumitomo</span> joined <span class="boldred">GE Energy Financial Services</span> and developer and managing member <span class="boldred">Caithness Energy</span> as owners of the 845-MW Shepherds Flat wind project under construction near Arlington, Ore. The three new participants are investing approximately $500 million in the $2 billion project. The Shepherds Flat wind project stretches across 30 square miles of Gilliam and Morrow Counties in north-central Oregon.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Lincoln Renewable Energy</span><span class="boldred">(LRE) </span>closed a $41 million power sale and project finance deal with Macquarie Energy. As part of the deal, Macquarie will enter a long-term purchase agreement for power and renewable energy credits from LRE’s New Jersey Oak solar project, and Macquarie will provide construction financing and term debt. LRE will be the long-term owner of the facility. Quanta Services is building the plant and providing O&amp;M services under an EPC contract. The New Jersey Oak solar project is a 10-MW PV project to be constructed in Fairfield Township, Cumberland County. The project will consist of some 55,000 solar panels constructed on a 100-acre site and will connect to Atlantic City Electric’s distribution system when it’s completed late in 2011.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Ioxus Inc</span>. received $21 million from Energy Technology Ventures, a GE-NRG Energy-ConocoPhillips joint venture; Northwater Capital through its Northwater Intellectual Property Fund; Aster Capital (representing Alstom, Schneider Electric and Rhodia); and return investor Braemar Energy Ventures. Ioxus will use this funding to develop its technology and expand sales, marketing and manufacturing to meet growing demand for ultracapacitors.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Calico Energy Services</span> received financial backing from Point B Capital and engaged the services of Point B, a management consulting firm that specializes in strategic execution. The investment provides capital to accelerate the company’s growth, and will allow Calico to use Point B’s leadership and management consulting services.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Nexamp</span> acquired <span class="boldred">SolVera Energy</span> as part of an initiative to grow its utility-scale and distributed renewable energy business. The company also formed into two new business units, Renewable Energy Solutions and Clean Energy Advisory Services, which is focused on energy efficiency consulting services for commercial and industrial customers.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Pattern Energy</span> partnered with <span class="boldred">Samsung Renewable Energy</span> to acquire wind power projects in Ontario from Acciona and Boralex. These projects will be combined with Pattern and Samsung’s larger South Kent Wind Farm, which is under development. The 270 MW wind farm is located in the Regional Municipality of Chatham-Kent. Samsung and its partners have an agreement with the Province of Ontario to provide 2,500 MW of new renewable energy. The first phase involves 400 MW of wind power and 100 MW of solar power. The companies secured dedicated transmission capacity for these initial projects. Pattern and Samsung agreed to develop more than 500 MW of wind power using Ontario-made wind turbine components from the new factories in Tillsonburg and in Windsor.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Pattern and Samsung</span> recently announced the acquisition of land from the Fargo Wind Project from <span class="boldred">Suncor Energy</span> and a nearby wind project development from <span class="boldred">Northland Power</span>.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">DeWind Co</span>, a wholly owned subsidiary of <span class="boldred">Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering</span>, acquired the rights for the 20-MW Frisco wind project, located in the northern-most portion of Hansford County, Texas, from local developer Distributed Wind Systems. DeWind will install 10 of its 2-MW D8.2 wind turbines at the Frisco site, which is scheduled to be in commercial operation by the end of 2011. The D8.2 turbines will be furnished from DeWind assembly contractor TECO-Westinghouse located in Round Rock, Texas.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">PPL</span> completed its acquisition of the <span class="boldred">Central Networks</span> electricity distribution business, the second-largest such business in the United Kingdom. PPL, through a U.K. subsidiary, acquired Central Networks from E.ON UK plc for $5.7 billion in cash, inclusive of certain permitted pre-closing adjustments, and $800 million of existing public debt to be assumed through consolidation. To complete closing, PPL used acquisition financing under a syndicated bridge facility arranged by Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse. The permanent financing plan includes a combination of common stock, equity units and debt. PPL expects to complete the permanent equity financing in the second quarter of 2011 and the debt financing by the end of the year.</p>
<p>The boards of directors of <span class="boldred">Exelon</span> and <span class="boldred">Constellation Energy</span> agreed to combine the two companies in a stock-for-stock transaction. Under the terms of the transaction, Constellation investors would receive the equivalent of $38.59 a share, about an 18-percent premium. The combined entity would have a market value of roughly $34 billion. The resulting company would retain the Exelon name and be headquartered in Chicago. Exelon’s power marketing business (Power Team) and Constellation’s retail and wholesale business would be consolidated under the Constellation brand and be headquartered in Baltimore. Both companies’ renewable energy businesses also would be headquartered in Baltimore, and the three utilities within the new Exelon—BGE, ComEd and PECO—would remain standalone organizations.</p>
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href="/tags/ea-technology-group">EA Technology Group</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/electric-power-research">Electric Power Research</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/electric-power-research-institute">Electric Power Research Institute</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/electric-power-research-institute-epri">Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/electric-reliability-council-texas">Electric Reliability Council of Texas</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/elster">Elster</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/energetix-pnu-power">Energetix Pnu Power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/energyaxis-0">EnergyAxis</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/epa">EPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/epc">EPC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/epri">EPRI</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ercot">ERCOT</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/etc">ETC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ev">EV</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/evs">EVs</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/exelon">Exelon</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/federal-energy-regulatory-commission">Federal Energy Regulatory Commission</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/fotowatio-renewable-ventures">Fotowatio Renewable Ventures</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/frisco">Frisco</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ge">GE</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ge-energy-financial">GE Energy Financial</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ge-energy-financial-services">GE Energy Financial Services</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/george-w-bush">George W. Bush</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ghg">GHG</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/gis">GIS</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/global-warming-solutions-act">Global Warming Solutions Act</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/google">Google</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/google-energy">Google Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/greenhouse-holdings">GreenHouse Holdings</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/greenwood-utilities-commission">Greenwood Utilities Commission</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/gwsa">GWSA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/hartz-solar-hamilton">Hartz Solar Hamilton</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/hvdc">HVDC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/hydro">Hydro</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/iea">IEA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/international-energy-agency">International Energy Agency</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/interoperability">Interoperability</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ioxus-inc">Ioxus Inc</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/iso">ISO</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/it">IT</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/itochu">ITOCHU</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/itron">Itron</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/jack-tomarchio">Jack Tomarchio</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/jcm-capital">JCM Capital</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/lincoln-renewable-energy">Lincoln Renewable Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/macquarie-energy">Macquarie Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/massachusetts-department-environmental-protection">Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/massachusetts-greenhouse-gas">Massachusetts Greenhouse Gas</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/massdep">MassDEP</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/maui-electric-co">Maui Electric Co</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/maui-electric-company">Maui Electric Company</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/merrill-lynch">Merrill Lynch</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/mesquite">Mesquite</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/mesquite-solar-1">Mesquite Solar 1</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/miso">MISO</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/mountaineer">Mountaineer</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/network">Network</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/new-haven">New Haven</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/new-jersey">New Jersey</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/newmark-knight-frank">Newmark Knight Frank</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nexamp">Nexamp</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nextera">NextEra</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nextera-energy">NextEra Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nextera-energy-resources">NextEra Energy Resources</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/notrees-windpower">Notrees Windpower</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nrg">NRG</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nrg-energy">NRG Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ocean-power-technologies">Ocean Power Technologies</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/openway">OpenWay</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/opower">Opower</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/opt">OPT</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ot">OT</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pattern-energy">Pattern Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/peco">PECO</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pjm">PJM</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pollution">Pollution</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ppa">PPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ppl">PPL</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pv">PV</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pv-systems">PV systems</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/quanta-services">Quanta Services</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/reliability">Reliability</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/renewable">Renewable</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/renewable-energy">Renewable Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/renewable-energy-systems-americas">Renewable Energy Systems Americas</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/res">RES</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/res-americas">RES Americas</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/rmt-inc">RMT Inc.</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ross-malme">Ross Malme</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/samsung-renewable-energy">Samsung Renewable Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/san-diego-county">San Diego County</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/savwatt-usa">SavWatt USA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/scada">SCADA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sce">SCE</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/schneider">Schneider</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sempra">Sempra</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sempra-energy">Sempra Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sempra-generation">Sempra Generation</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sep">SEP</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sepa">SEPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sgip">SGIP</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/shepherds-flat">Shepherds Flat</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/siemens">Siemens</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/siemens-energy">Siemens Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sightlogix">SightLogix</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/skipping-stone">Skipping Stone</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/smart-grid-interoperability-panel">Smart Grid Interoperability Panel</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/soitec-solar-development">Soitec Solar Development</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar">Solar</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar-electric-power-association">Solar Electric Power Association</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar-panels">solar panels</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar-power-partners">Solar Power Partners</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/south-mississippi-electric-power">South Mississippi Electric Power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/southwest-power-pool">Southwest Power Pool</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/spp">SPP</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/storage">storage</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sumitomo">Sumitomo</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/survalent-technology">Survalent Technology</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/technology">Technology</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/transmission">Transmission</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/tres-amigas">Tres Amigas</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/trina-solar">Trina Solar</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/utc-power">UTC Power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/utc-power-corp">UTC Power Corp</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/webberville">Webberville</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/western-electricity-coordinating-council">Western Electricity Coordinating Council</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/wind">Wind</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/xtreme-power">Xtreme Power</a> </div>
</div>
Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:00:00 +0000puradmin14100 at http://www.fortnightly.comChasing the $unhttp://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/2011/03/chasing-un
<div class="field field-name-field-import-deck field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Deck:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Solar projects are becoming hot investments.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-byline field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Byline:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Scott M. Gawlicki</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-bio field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Author Bio:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><b>Scott M. Gawlicki</b> is <i>Fortnightly</i>’s contributing editor, based in Hartford, Ct.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-volume field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Magazine Volume:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Fortnightly Magazine - March 2011</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-image field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1103-FEA1-1.jpg" width="1000" height="1500" alt="Source: BrightSource" title="Source: BrightSource" /></div><div class="field-item odd"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1103-FEA1-2.jpg" width="1500" height="1000" alt="Sempra Generation&#039;s 48-MW Copper Mountain facility in Nevada became the largest solar PV plant in America when it started operation in 2010. The company has another 1,000 MW in development. (Source: Sempra Generation)" title="Sempra Generation&#039;s 48-MW Copper Mountain facility in Nevada became the largest solar PV plant in America when it started operation in 2010. The company has another 1,000 MW in development. (Source: Sempra Generation)" /></div><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1103-FEA1-3.jpg" width="1500" height="1061" alt="Concentrated solar thermal plants are scaling up and becoming more flexible with heat storage and adjacent gas turbines. BrightSource and NRG Solar are building the 392-MW Ivanpah project in the Mojave Desert. (Source: BrightSource)" title="Concentrated solar thermal plants are scaling up and becoming more flexible with heat storage and adjacent gas turbines. BrightSource and NRG Solar are building the 392-MW Ivanpah project in the Mojave Desert. (Source: BrightSource)" /></div><div class="field-item odd"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1103-FEA1-4.jpg" width="3405" height="2331" alt="NRG Solar operates a 21-MW PV plant near Blythe, Calif., and plans to invest another $1 billion in solar projects in California and Arizona. Source: (NRG Solar)" title="NRG Solar operates a 21-MW PV plant near Blythe, Calif., and plans to invest another $1 billion in solar projects in California and Arizona. Source: (NRG Solar)" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Taught from an early age to generate or procure power from the lowest-cost resources, America’s utilities historically have scoffed at solar energy. In addition to its comparatively high cost and diminutive plant capacity, solar’s variable and non-dispatchable output poses technical issues that most utilities would prefer to avoid.</p>
<p>But solar technologies have been steadily scaling up in recent years, and becoming more cost effective. Plus, renewable portfolio standards (RPS) in 33 states are forcing utilities to make solar and other renewable energy sources a substantial part of their generation mix. A 2010 market study by consulting firm IHS Inc. spells it out: cumulative renewables demand across all states with binding RPS policies will grow from an expected 137 TWh (terawatt-hours) in 2010 to 479 TWh by 2025, an increase of approximately 250 percent.</p>
<p>Facing the need to comply with state mandates, utilities are increasingly moving toward development and ownership of renewable assets—including solar.</p>
<p>“Of the installed PV systems over 10 MW in the U.S., almost all have utilities or utility affiliates as large equity investors,” says Jay Paidipati, an associate director at Navigant Consulting. “Some of this is due to current and anticipated growth in compliance demand, but these projects can also provide good returns. Tax equity investors generally can command between 9 and 13 percent returns and [long-term] project equity investors typically command between 10 and 19 percent, depending on what stage of development they invest in.”</p>
<p>With photovoltaic (PV) panel costs declining, technology developers introducing new concentrated solar power (CSP) designs, and the federal government offering development grants—as well as construction loan guarantees, accelerated depreciation and tax credits that were previously off limits—the outlook for solar investments is starting to look downright bullish.</p>
<p>“We view solar as a real growth story,” says Tom Doyle, president of NRG Solar. The company owns and operates a 21 MW PV facility in Blythe, Calif., and is looking to invest more than $1 billion in two other projects—a 290 MW PV plant in Arizona and a 390 MW CSP plant in California. “We see significant growth in this space, which is why we control roughly 2 GW of proposals. Yes, there’s also wind power, but we believe that going forward it won’t grow like solar.”</p>
<p><b>Solar vs. Wind </b></p>
<p>Solar capacity in the U.S. currently represents less than 1 percent of the country’s electrical generating capacity, and any substantial uptick in that share is years away. But solar is quickly becoming a very real utility-scale resource and an investment opportunity; no longer are utilities making token commitments to solar power just to satisfy regulators.</p>
<p>That’s because, depending on the location, a solar asset can be a more valuable grid resource than its biggest rival, wind power. A PV installation, for example, operates best at times of peak electrical demand. Plus, siting is much more flexible. PV arrays can be located close to load centers, and can be installed relatively quickly and in small increments, perhaps on a warehouse rooftop or adjacent to an existing substation.</p>
<p>These characteristics mean a nimble solar PV project can be easier to permit, finance and build than the typical wind farm, which, because it’s usually far from a load center, often requires new transmission infrastructure to deliver the output.</p>
<p>Similarly, compared to PV, a solar CSP plant—which uses mirrors to gather and concentrate the sun’s heat to generate superheated steam—also takes longer to finance, permit and build, and might require new transmission capacity as well. But a CSP plant can leverage its power block—the steam generator and turbine, which can represent 50 percent of a power plant’s cost—with a heat storage facility or even an adjacent gas turbine to deliver more firm, less variable power output. You can’t do that, CSP developers say, with a wind farm.</p>
<p>Further, the cost of solar power technology continues to decline. Depending on the location, PV can deliver power at 11 to 12 cents a kilowatt-hour, making it competitive with gas-fired peaking plants in some parts of the country. “Solar PV has become a lot cheaper in the last five years,” says Declan Flanagan, CEO of Chicago-based Lincoln Renewable Energy, a private developer. “It’s gone from $8 per Watt installed, to between $3 and $4. That’s a 50 percent cost reduction, and the trend is continuing.”</p>
<p>PV system prices will continue dropping for a number of reasons, according to Paidipati. “You’ve got the learning curve, meaning the more you build the better you become at doing so; greater economies of scale as the industry continues to grow; lower silicon prices; and increased module and system efficiencies.”</p>
<p>The per-kilowatt-hour price for CSP assets is a bit higher, but it’s in the ballpark. “The prices we’ve seen for PPAs in the southwestern U.S. have ranged from 11 to 12 cents a kilowatt-hour, to the high teens, depending on the plant’s location and configuration,” says IHS Analyst Thomas Maslin.</p>
<p><b>Tax Appetite </b></p>
<p>While interest in solar is definitely a utility-by-utility proposition, there are generally two investment models. First, some regulated utilities are adding solar assets to their generation portfolio, either by building facilities or acquiring them. Under the second model, independent developers like NRG Solar are investing in or building merchant solar plants and selling the output to load-serving utilities under long-term power purchase agreements (PPA).</p>
<p>At this point, utilities are investing mostly in relatively small PV projects ranging from 1 to 30 MW in size, while independent developers and utility affiliates are investing in larger utility-scale PV and CSP projects that will add potentially thousands of megawatts of capacity over the next 10 to 20 years.</p>
<p>“To meet its RPS targets sooner, a utility can install PV assets near existing substations, usually in the 10, 20 or 30 MW size. In that size range, you can finance and deploy the equipment faster,” Maslin says. “The federal government’s 30 percent tax credit wasn’t previously an option to IOUs and now it’s been extended to the end of 2016. So if the utility has the tax appetite, it might want to choose the advantages of owning, versus buying the power through a PPA.”</p>
<p>For a regulated utility, the decision to build or buy can be a balancing act because many are already in the midst of other capital intensive projects, like transmission and distribution upgrades, says Andy Redinger, managing director of the energy utility group at KeyBanc Capital Markets.</p>
<p>“The U.S. utility industry hasn’t had a construction cycle like this one since the 1970s. At the same time, the renewable path adds even more spending,” Redinger says. “You’ve got a slowing economy, state and local governments that are in difficulty, and taxes are going up. We’re talking about a lot of money, and utilities have to weigh the regulatory risk. Do they build a solar plant themselves or buy the power from someone else to meet their requirements? There are a lot of moving parts to this issue,” he says.</p>
<p>If a regulated utility can fold the asset into its rate base, Redinger adds, owning the facility is the most efficient option.</p>
<p>“If I’m a utility and I’m able to rate-base a gas plant or a solar plant, I’d probably choose the solar plant. A natural gas plant is clearly cheaper, but if the regulators agree and I have no solar assets, I’d say put it in the stack and use it to help make up the RPS,” he says.</p>
<p>In Arizona, electric utilities like Arizona Public Service (APS) must procure 15 percent of their energy from renewable resources by 2025. Though it has PPAs in place to buy some 700 MW of renewable power, including 370 MW of solar capacity, APS has begun developing its own solar projects too.</p>
<p>In 2010 it announced four utility-scale PV projects, including the 18-MW Gila Bend, 15-MW Luke, 17-MW Hyder and 20-MW Chino Valley projects. They’re all part of a program called “AZ Sun,” under which APS will invest about $500 million to develop 100 MW of utility-owned photovoltaic assets. With other projects still to come, the entire 100-MW portfolio is scheduled to be online by 2014.</p>
<p>“Compliance isn’t the only reason we’re investing in solar,” says Eran Mahrer, director of APS Renewables. “Arizona is a growth state and ours is a growth territory. A few years back the question for us became ‘How do we add renewable energy to meet our resource planning needs and fulfill our compliance objectives?’”</p>
<p>From a strategic standpoint, Mahrer says owning solar assets will help APS diversify its energy portfolio and lessen its long term risk.</p>
<p>“Only 100 MW of our 800 MW of utility-scale renewable capacity will be coming from APS-owned projects, so our objective now is to try to balance that out. Probably not 50/50, but we had to acknowledge that owning a little over 10 percent wasn’t completely managing that risk,” he says.</p>
<p>With the economic downturn, solar projects proposed by private developers that appeared promising several years ago have been terminated due to financing difficulties. APS reasoned that the changes in the tax law that now allow utilities to claim a 30 percent investment tax credit on renewable projects make utility ownership a better option. Further, the company also knew that with its balance sheet, it could greatly improve the chances that solar projects would be financed and developed.</p>
<p>“As a regulated utility we have the tax appetite, and we knew we could finance that type of solar asset efficiently,” Mahrer says. And owning a greater percentage of its renewable generation portfolio would also mitigate any potential risks associated with PPAs.</p>
<p>“For some utilities, the RPS mandate is still a key driver, but it’s no longer the only driver. The more progressive utilities are beginning to think about developing a portfolio of the future,” says Julia Hamm, president and CEO of the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA). “While the price of a solar installation might be higher today, some utilities want to get their foot in the door and assess the business and technology issues now, rather than later.”</p>
<p><b>PV vs. Solar Thermal </b></p>
<p>Unregulated subsidiaries, like NRG Solar and San Diego-based Sempra Generation, on the other hand, are building larger-scale PV and CSP merchant projects specifically to serve regulated utilities looking to satisfy their RPS mandate. But like their regulated affiliates and peers, independent developers too are leveraging governmental supports, including DOE loan guarantees.</p>
<p>Sempra Generation, for example, is developing 1,000 MW of PV capacity in Arizona, Nevada and California. Its flagship project, the 48-MW Copper Mountain Solar facility in Boulder City, Nev., went commercial last December and is the largest operating PV plant in the country. The power from that plant, along with the company’s adjacent 10-MW PV El Dorado Solar plant, has been sold to Pacific Gas &amp; Electric (PG&amp;E) under separate 20-year contracts.</p>
<p>However, Sempra has much larger PV projects in development, including the 600-MW Mesquite project, located about 40 miles west of Phoenix, Ariz., and the 200-MW Rosamond PV project, located in the high desert about 90 miles north of Los Angeles.</p>
<p>“Renewable mandates are the driver. There is strong demand for renewable power in the Southwest region, and we see solar as a valuable part of that market,” says Sempra spokesman Scott Crider. “We chose PV over thermal technologies because, from a financing standpoint, it’s a more proven entity. There are also fewer moving parts, which we feel will reduce O&amp;M costs, and no water is needed to operate the plant, which is an environmental benefit. Panel prices are declining as well. As more projects are built, the construction learning curve will also reduce costs.”</p>
<p>Construction on the first 150-MW phase of the Mesquite project is scheduled to begin later this year and should be completed by 2013. Sempra located the plant near the Hassayampa 500-kV switchyard, a major transmission hub that will enable it ship power to all southwestern U.S. markets. Power from the first phase will be sold to PG&amp;E under a 20-year contract, pending approval from the California Public Utilities Commission.</p>
<p>Crider says changes to the federal tax laws are just as important to Sempra Generation as they are to IOUs. “The investment tax credit is absolutely a key component in developing our projects,” he says. “We’re investing in 30-year assets, so we need as much regulatory and political certainty as we can get. That obviously helps with the project financing as well.”</p>
<p>Federal support is playing an even greater role in new CSP projects. Though thermal technologies have been demonstrated on a relatively small scale, large plants featuring new CSP designs must rely on loan guarantees from the DOE to secure financial backing. One of the furthest along is Oakland-based BrightSource Energy’s 392-MW Ivanpah Solar plant, which employs a new solar tower technology.</p>
<p>Located in California’s Mojave Desert, Ivanpah will be the world’s largest solar plant when it begins operations in 2013. BrightSource will sell its output to both Southern California Edison and PG&amp;E.</p>
<p>Unlike trough-based designs, the solar tower design employs flat mirrors on heliostats that follow and direct sunlight to the receiver tower. The company says a tower system has much lower heat losses because the heat-collecting pipes are concentrated in the receiver and not dispersed around the solar field.</p>
<p>The project received a conditional $1.37 billion DOE loan guarantee to help secure financing. NRG Solar will be investing up to $300 million over the next three years, and an NRG subsidiary will operate the plant once it goes commercial. In addition to the loan guarantee, NRG, BrightSource and other investors will also benefit from the federal government’s 30 percent tax grant and a five-year accelerated depreciation schedule.</p>
<p>“For this project we had to leverage the DOE loan guarantee, but we believe bank financing for the BrightSource technology will be available within the first year after commercial operation in 2013,” Doyle says. “What we liked about this project is thermal solar is more grid friendly than PV. We’re also sensitive to environmental concerns, and the design includes dry cooling, which addresses the water consumption issues associated with traditional CSP. We’re taking a long-term ownership position in this project, so sustainability is important to us.”</p>
<p>The facility is the first of several Ivanpah phases, and BrightSource expects the learning curve will ultimately reduce construction and O&amp;M costs. The company also plans to move from the initial 130 MW per-tower design to an advanced, 250-MW supercritical steam receiver that will enhance overall efficiency and output. Molten salt storage can also be added if and when it’s needed.</p>
<p>“Compared to PV, CSP offers a higher capacity factor in terms of its relative output, so it delivers the power in a way utilities are more familiar with,” says Charles Ricker, senior vice president of business development at BrightSource. “As opposed to PV, we believe IOUs are more interested in owning and operating a plant like this, but they’re not early adopters. They’re more interested in letting others develop the plant, and then they acquire it after it’s operating. Or perhaps an unregulated subsidiary buys it.”</p>
<p>But in the final analysis, Ricker adds, every renewable resource has its place in the country’s electrical generation mix.</p>
<p>“PV is modular, which makes it much more nimble. The plants are smaller and you don’t have the same permitting and transmission interconnect requirements,” Ricker says. “We are producing a much larger plant, one that uses steam generating technology. The output is more firm and it has a greater load shifting or matching capability, especially if you add a storage system. And remember, when Ivanpah comes on line, it will produce as much electricity as all the PV assets in California combined.”</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field-collection-container clearfix"><div class="field field-name-field-sidebar field-type-field-collection field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Sidebar:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"><div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-sidebar clearfix">
<div class="content">
<div class="field field-name-field-sidebar-title field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Sidebar Title:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">&lt;b&gt;PPA Accounting Adjustments &lt;/b&gt;</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-sidebar-body field-type-text-long field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Sidebar Body:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><!--smart_paging_autop_filter--><!--smart_paging_filter--><p>A regulated electric utility choosing between procuring renewable power via a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA), or building its own renewable asset, might want to keep an eye on possible changes to the United States’ generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).</p><p>The U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board and the International Accounting Standards Board are proposing changes that would narrow the gap between GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).</p><p>One proposed change involves lease accounting, which could, in effect, require regulated utilities to bring the full value, rather than the annual value, of a PPA onto their books. Such a move could make owning, rather than buying, renewable generation a much better option for utilities, says Eran Mahrer, director of renewables at Arizona Public Service.</p><p>The proposal would require most leases to be recorded as financing transactions and essentially would eliminate the current off-balance sheet accounting for operating leases, explains Anton Cohen, a CPA and principal with the Reznick Group, P.C., in Bethesda, MD.</p><p>“There has been considerable debate over what’s meant by control of physical access and the determination of market or fixed pricing.” Cohen says. “In public practice, there’s been significant diversity on the interpretation and ultimate conclusion of these issues. If the determination is made that the PPA is a lease, then generally the PPA would be treated as an operating lease.”</p><p>Such treatment would require utilities to account for renewable PPAs on their balance sheets, which creates both cost and complexity, Cohen says. The utility (lessee) would record both a right-of-use asset and lease liability at the inception of the lease. It would also record interest expense rather than rent or lease expense, and would amortize the asset over the lease term, or the useful life of the underlying asset if it’s shorter.</p><p>Both interest expense and amortization expense are excluded from the determination of EBITDA, which means the IFRS approach could increase EBITDA when compared to the current treatment of lease expense, Cohen says.</p><p>Existing leases aren’t expected to be grandfathered, he adds. A final accounting standards update is expected to be issued in the first half of 2011, and many anticipate that it won’t be effective until 2013.</p><p>“As a utility, our job is to mitigate risk, and this could impact the way we procure renewable energy,” Mahrer says. “Right now we need to figure out the best way to balance our renewable portfolio, and this is just another variable.”–SMG</p></div></div></div> </div>
</div>
</div></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Category (Actual): </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/article-categories/renewables-solar-11505">Solar</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1"><a href="/article-categories/strategy-planning">Strategy &amp; Planning</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2"><a href="/article-categories/accounting-depreciation">Accounting &amp; Depreciation</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-members-only field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Viewable to All?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-featured field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Featured?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-picture field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image Picture:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/article_images/1103/images/1103-FEA1.jpg" width="720" height="469" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-fortnightly-40 field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Fortnightly 40?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-law-lawyers field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Law &amp; Lawyers:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<a href="/tags/andy-redinger">Andy Redinger</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/aps">APS</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/aps-renewables">APS Renewables</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/arizona-public-service">Arizona Public Service</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/az-sun">AZ Sun</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/blythe">Blythe</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/brightsource">BrightSource</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/brightsource-energy">BrightSource Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/california-public-utilities-commission">California Public Utilities Commission</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/charles-ricker">Charles Ricker</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/chino-valley">Chino Valley</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/commission">Commission</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/copper-mountain">Copper Mountain</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/csp">CSP</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/declan-flanagan">Declan Flanagan</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/doe">DOE</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/el-dorado-solar">El Dorado Solar</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/epa">EPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/eran-mahrer">Eran Mahrer</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/gila-bend">Gila Bend</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/hassayampa">Hassayampa</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/hyder">Hyder</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ihs-inc">IHS Inc.</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ious">IOUs</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ivanpah-solar">Ivanpah Solar</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/jay-paidipati">Jay Paidipati</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/julia-hamm">Julia Hamm</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/keybanc">KeyBanc</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/keybanc-capital-markets">KeyBanc Capital Markets</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/lincoln-renewable-energy">Lincoln Renewable Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/lowest-cost-resources">lowest-cost resources</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/luke">Luke</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/mesquite">Mesquite</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/navigant">Navigant</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/navigant-consulting">Navigant Consulting</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nrg">NRG</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nrg-solar">NRG Solar</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ppa">PPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pv">PV</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pv-systems">PV systems</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/renewable">Renewable</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/renewable-energy">Renewable Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/rosamond">Rosamond</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/rps">RPS</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/scott-crider">Scott Crider</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sempra">Sempra</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sempra-generation">Sempra Generation</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sep">SEP</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sepa">SEPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar">Solar</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar-capacity">Solar capacity</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar-electric-power-association">Solar Electric Power Association</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/southern-california-edison">Southern California Edison</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/storage">storage</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/thomas-maslin">Thomas Maslin</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/tom-doyle">Tom Doyle</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/wind">Wind</a> </div>
</div>
Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0000puradmin14119 at http://www.fortnightly.comSolar Villagehttp://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/2011/01/solar-village
<div class="field field-name-field-import-deck field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Deck:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Combined efforts bring mutual benefit.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-byline field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Byline:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>By Julia Hamm</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-category field-type-text field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Category:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Op-Ed</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-bio field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Author Bio:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><b>Julia Hamm</b> is the president and CEO of the Solar Electric Power Association.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-volume field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Magazine Volume:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Fortnightly Magazine - January 2011</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>CEOs who lead today’s electric utilities, solar equipment manufacturers, and solar project developers are learning the value of collaboration.</p>
<p>A variety of collaborative business models have helped drive tremendous growth in solar power, even in the face of economic turmoil and lower demand for energy. Though electricity use was down 4.2 percent in 2009 compared to 2008, overall solar capacity grew by 37 percent. Capacity at the 10 utilities with the most solar in their service territories climbed 66 percent.</p>
<p>In light of this information, it’s no surprise that a vice president of one of the largest banks responsible for investments in renewable energy told me that he expects five of his 10 biggest competitors in search of solar investment opportunities to be utility holding companies.</p>
<h4>Collaborative Models</h4>
<p>A recent study by the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA), <i>Utility Solar Business Models Phase II: Developing Value in Solar Markets</i>, examined a multitude of business models that utilities are pursuing in their efforts to develop solar power generation capacity. The report confirmed that regardless of what drives the action—state regulation, federal policy, economic reality—collaboration between utilities and the solar industry is now becoming prevalent. These expanding definitions of utility solar business models represent a significant potential for solar market growth, and provide paths for others to follow. Some examples:</p>
<p>• Public Service Electric &amp; Gas in New Jersey and Petra Solar formed a partnership that will install smart-grid-enabled, 200 watt panels with microinverters on 200,000 utility poles totaling 40 MW in capacity. The equipment is provided by Petra Solar but owned and installed by the utility.</p>
<p>• Salt River Project, one of the largest public power utilities in the United States, partnered with Stirling Energy Systems and Tessera Solar to launch the first commercial-scale dish stirling plant in the world.</p>
<p>• Arizona Public Service developed the APS Qualified Solar Installer (QSI) program. The program is designed to make it easier for APS customers to identify a solar installer who holds the applicable license; is knowledgeable of system design and installation practices; understands APS policy and procedures; and has high customer satisfaction ratings. In turn, the APS QSI program allows installers to be distinguished in the market and build their customer base. The program provides benefits to the installer community including supplemental training, access to solar advertising funds, customer referrals, and many other benefits.</p>
<p>• Southern California Edison, in partnership with multiple companies, completed the initial rooftop projects that are part of its 250 MW, utility-owned rooftop program. SCE also began purchasing the output of the 21 MW PV plant developed by First Solar and owned by NRG Energy.</p>
<p>• Pacific Gas &amp; Electric, like many other companies, is taking a portfolio approach to solar rather than putting its eggs all in one basket. While the regulated piece of the business is pursuing a combination of purchase agreements, utility-owned solar and customer-owned solar, the parent holding company is foraying into investing in solar projects installed by independent solar companies. So far PG&amp;E has invested $160 million in projects being installed by SolarCity and SunRun, companies operating in multiple states that offer solar lease and PPA options, largely in the residential market.</p>
<h4>Allocating Benefits</h4>
<p>Even utilities that proactively want to engage in solar activity encounter challenges, since all utilities operate within bounds established by higher authorities, whether a public service commission, a city council, or a co-op board.</p>
<p>One challenge is how to assign stakeholder impacts: who benefits from utility solar activities, who pays for them, and how benefits and costs should be allocated among different stakeholders and utility customers. This challenge isn’t uncommon for utilities, of course, and certainly isn’t unique to solar programs. Many proposed programs have been declined by higher authorities as a result of these concerns, so addressing them in advance is an important key to success.</p>
<p>Utilities struggle with the issue of revenue erosion as well. Customer-owned solar capacity feeds into the problem. Why should a utility encourage customers to generate their own electricity without a clear value proposition? Though it’s been implemented in only a handful of states and remains controversial, decoupling—or separating profits from sales—might represent a partial solution. Perhaps the most productive path forward is for the solar and utility industries to identify win-win business models that create the necessary value proposition for utilities. They can also work together to help educate regulators about policy changes that create an incentive rather than a disincentive for utilities to implement solar programs.</p>
<p>As former Chrysler executive Thomas Stallkamp said, “The secret is to gang up on the problem, rather than each other.”</p>
<h4>Technology Path</h4>
<p>Two areas of opportunity exist where more collaboration would have a positive end result for everyone’s solar energy goals: smart grid and storage.</p>
<p>The term “smart grid” has an elusive definition. It’s complex, and if you ask 100 people, you’ll get 100 variations on the answer. But utilities are already collaborating quite effectively with various smart grid technology players, while solar companies are more frequently sitting on the sidelines.</p>
<p>During a recent SEPA trip to Japan with 18 utility representatives, individuals from utilities, government agencies, and solar companies all independently voiced a similar perspective. To paraphrase, they said, “In the United States, you talk about the smart grid as a way to improve reliability, to improve customer satisfaction and to reduce rates. In Japan, we talk about the need for a smart grid, too. But the only reason we talk about it is because it’s the enabler to reach our goal of creating a low-carbon society. A smart grid will allow us to integrate far more solar electricity.”</p>
<p>With some exceptions, in the United States smart grid conversations frequently downplay or even ignore the significant role it can play in helping meet clean energy goals. If the solar industry can work in close collaboration with the utility industry to define this value and draw clear parallels for regulators between the smart grid and the ability to meet renewable portfolio standards, utilities and the solar industry will both benefit. Proactively seeking partnerships and collaborations will result in a grid well suited for our modern energy needs.</p>
<p>Electric power storage is another area of collaboration that could add to the effectiveness of renewables. Solar production frequently follows peak closely, but not always and not perfectly. So the ability to store the output of a solar plant to serve peak demands as well as to provide backup power significantly increases solar energy’s value to the utility. The development of storage technology solutions is yet another huge collaborative opportunity for the utility and solar industries.</p>
<p>Both the utility and solar industries are still far from reaching their goals, and we’ve still only scratched the surface on the potential of solar energy in the United States. As SEPA’s <i>Utility Solar Business Models Phase II</i> study shows, collaboration and business model innovation will be part of the solution.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Category (Actual): </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/article-categories/renewables-solar-11505">Solar</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1"><a href="/article-categories/energy-policy-legislation">Energy Policy &amp; Legislation</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-members-only field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Viewable to All?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-featured field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Featured?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Department: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/department/op-ed">Op-Ed</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-picture field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image Picture:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/article_images/1101/images/1101-OPED.jpg" width="557" height="692" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-fortnightly-40 field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Fortnightly 40?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-law-lawyers field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Law &amp; Lawyers:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<a href="/tags/aps">APS</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/arizona-public-service">Arizona Public Service</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/benefits">Benefits</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/chrysler">Chrysler</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/epa">EPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/first-solar">First Solar</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/new-jersey">New Jersey</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nrg">NRG</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nrg-energy">NRG Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ppa">PPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pv">PV</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sce">SCE</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sep">SEP</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sepa">SEPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar">Solar</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar-electric-power-association">Solar Electric Power Association</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solarcity-0">SolarCity</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/southern-california-edison">Southern California Edison</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/stirling-energy-systems">Stirling Energy Systems</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/storage">storage</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/technology">Technology</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/tessera">Tessera</a> </div>
</div>
Sat, 01 Jan 2011 05:00:00 +0000puradmin14081 at http://www.fortnightly.comPeople (December 2010)http://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/2010/12/people-december-2010
<div class="field field-name-field-import-category field-type-text field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Category:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">People</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-volume field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Magazine Volume:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Fortnightly Magazine - December 2010</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><span class="boldred">New Opportunities: </span><b>Chesapeake Utilities</b> named <b>Michael P. McMasters</b> president and CEO, due to the planned retirement Jan. 1, 2011 of CEO <b>John R. Schimkaitis</b>.</p>
<p><b>Duke Energy</b> appointed <b>Doug Esamann</b> president of its Indiana service region. Esamann was interim president since October 12. He replaces <b>Mike Reed</b>, who, according to Associated Press reports, was dismissed upon conclusion of an ethics inquiry into Reed’s previous role on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Duke dismissed attorney <b>Scott Storms</b> as a result of the same inquiry.</p>
<p><b>American Transmission</b> named John Flynn v.p. of business development, a newly created position.</p>
<p><b>Allen Nye</b> joined <b>Oncor</b> as senior v.p. and general counsel. Nye is a partner at the Dallas office of Vinson &amp; Elkins.</p>
<p><b>FirstEnergy Corp</b>. promoted <b>Kevin Burgess</b> to assistant controller. He was assistant controller, FirstEnergy Utilities. <b>Jon Taylor</b>, formerly manager, financial reporting and technical accounting at FirstEnergy Utilities, was promoted to Burgess’s previous position.</p>
<p><b>Alliant Energy</b> hired <b>James H. Gallegos</b> as v.p. and general counsel. Gallegos was vice president and general counsel at Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Corp., and before that a staff attorney with Qwest. He replaces <b>Barbara J. Swan</b>, who is retiring as FirstEnergy general counsel and president of Wisconsin Power &amp; Light (WPL) subsidiary. The company named <b>John O. Larsen</b> to succeed Swan as WPL president.</p>
<p><b>Stacy Kilcoyne</b> was named v.p., human resources for <b>Southern Company</b>. Kilcoyne brings more than 30 years of experience to the position.</p>
<p><b>GeoGlobal Energy</b> named <b>Joe Cleary</b> director of construction.</p>
<p><b>David W. Hilt</b> joins <b>Quanta Technology</b> as v.p. of regulatory services. Formerly, Hilt was v.p. of compliance at the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC). He also served as v.p. of operations and engineering at NERC.</p>
<p>The <b>New York Independent System Operator </b>(NYISO) retained former FERC Commissioner <b>Suedeen Kelly</b> as a strategic energy policy advisor. Kelly is a partner with Patton Boggs.</p>
<p>The <b>Organization of MISO States </b>elected Michigan Public Service Commissioner <b>Monica Martinez </b>president of the organization.</p>
<p><b>Gridwise Alliance</b> Chairman <b>Guido Bartels</b> was re-appointed to the United States Department of Energy’s (DOE) Electricity Advisory Committee.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="boldred">Boards of Directors:</span> <b>Dr. Steven R. Specker</b> was elected to the <b>Southern Company</b> board of directors. Specker recently retired from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), where he served as president and CEO from 2004 to 2010.</p>
<p><b>Bob Dawson</b>, president and CEO of <b>SouthernLINC Wireless</b>, a Southern Company affiliate, was elected to the 2011 board of directors of <b>CTIA-The</b><b>Wireless Association</b>.</p>
<p><b>Solar Electric Power Association</b> (SEPA) elected five new members to its board of directors and re-elected one member to serve an additional term. They are: <b>Eran Mahrer</b>, director of renewable energy, Arizona Public Service; <b>Luis Reyes</b>, CEO of Kit Carson Rural Electric Cooperative; <b>Theresa Williams</b>, senior policy advisor, Western Area Power Administration; <b>Mark Dougherty </b>(re-elected), director of distributed generation and renewable programs, Long Island Power Authority.</p>
<p>The <b>American Solar Energy Society </b>(ASES) elected three new members to its board: <b>Mary Guzowski</b>, associate professor of architecture, University of Minnesota; <b>David Panich</b>, co-owner, Panich + Noel Architects; and <b>Phil Smithers</b>, technical services leader, renewable energy unit, APS.</p>
<p><b>Empire District Electric </b>announced that <b>Bill Helton</b> will retire from the board on April 28, 2011. <b>Thomas Ohlmacher </b>has been nominated to fill the board vacancy and will stand for election at the company’s annual meeting of stockholders. Ohlmacher has been president and COO of Black Hills non-regulated energy group since 2001.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><i>We welcome submissions to People, especially those accompanied by a high-resolution color photograph. E-mail to: <a href="mailto:people@pur.com">people@pur.com</a>.</i></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Category (Actual): </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/article-categories/people">People</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-members-only field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Viewable to All?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-featured field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Featured?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Department: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/department/people">People</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-picture field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image Picture:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/article_images/1012/images/1012-cvr.jpg" width="1121" height="1500" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-fortnightly-40 field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Fortnightly 40?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-law-lawyers field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Law &amp; Lawyers:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix">
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<a href="/tags/alliant">Alliant</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/alliant-energy">Alliant Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/american-transmission">American Transmission</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/aps">APS</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/arizona-public-service">Arizona Public Service</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/chesapeake-utilities">Chesapeake Utilities</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/commission">Commission</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ctia">CTIA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/department-energy">Department of Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/doe">DOE</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/duke-energy">Duke Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/electric-power-research">Electric Power Research</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/electric-power-research-institute">Electric Power Research Institute</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/electric-power-research-institute-epri">Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/empire-district-electric">Empire District Electric</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/epa">EPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/epri">EPRI</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/eran-mahrer">Eran Mahrer</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ferc">FERC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/firstenergy">FirstEnergy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/indiana-utility-regulatory-commission">Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/iso">ISO</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/long-island-power-authority">Long Island Power Authority</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/michigan-public-service-commission">Michigan Public Service Commission</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/miso">MISO</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nerc">NERC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/new-york-independent-system-operator">New York Independent System Operator</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/north-american-electric-reliability-corp-0">North American Electric Reliability Corp.</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nyiso">NYISO</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/oncor">Oncor</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/organization-miso-states">Organization of MISO States</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/patton-boggs">Patton Boggs</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/reliability">Reliability</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sep">SEP</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sepa">SEPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar">Solar</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar-electric-power-association">Solar Electric Power Association</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/southern-company">Southern Company</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/southernlinc-wireless">SouthernLINC Wireless</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/steven-specker">Steven Specker</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/technology">Technology</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/thomas-ohlmacher">Thomas Ohlmacher</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/transmission">Transmission</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/williams">Williams</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/wireless-association-0">Wireless Association</a> </div>
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Wed, 01 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000puradmin13557 at http://www.fortnightly.comVendor Neutralhttp://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/2010/12/vendor-neutral
<div class="field field-name-field-import-deck field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Deck:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-byline field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Byline:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-category field-type-text field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Category:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Vendor Neutral</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-bio field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Author Bio:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-volume field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Magazine Volume:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Fortnightly Magazine - December 2010</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Lockheed Martin teams with Tendril; Pattern Energy 101 MW wind plant starts operating; Alstom to supply steam equipment to GWF plant; Siemens wins government efficiency contract; GE Jenbacher introduces high-efficiency gas engine; OpenADR Alliance forms; Better Place gets into San Francisco taxis; EnerNOC enters TransAmerica Pyramid; and more. </p>
<h4>Generation </h4>
<p><b>American Capital Energy</b> began installing one of North America’s largest rooftop solar arrays at the <b>GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Northeast</b> regional distribution center in York, Pa. When the 3 MW project is completed, nearly 11,000 solar panels are expected to generate approximately 3.4 million kWh of electricity per year, which GSK says is enough to supply the facility’s annual electricity needs. The project was supported by a $1 million grant from Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Financing Authority and $4.1 million in federal tax credits. GSK also plans to offset its costs by selling solar renewable energy credits (REC). GSK says it recently completed four other solar panel projects at its facilities in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Belgium and Singapore, and that it plans to install solar panels at its Fresno, Calif., distribution center in the spring of 2011. </p>
<p><b>Alstom</b> signed a contract with U.S. independent power producer GWF Energy to supply heat recovery steam generators and a steam turbine to GWF’s power plant in Tracy, Calif. The project, which will convert the Tracy facility from a 169 MW gas-fired peaking plant to a 336 MW combined-cycle plant, will increase the plant’s efficiency while providing operational flexibility to support GWF’s power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas &amp; Electric. The expanded plant is expected to begin commercial operation in 2012. </p>
<p>Alstom and <b>EDP Renewables</b> completed the Le Mée wind farm in La Centre Région, France. The 18 MW farm consists of six 3 MW Alstom ECO 100 wind turbines. The wind farm is the third in the region to be commissioned in less than a year using Alstom’s 3 MW turbine technology. By the end of the year Alstom says it will have commissioned 27 ECO 100 turbines for EDP in the region, with a generating capacity exceeding 80 MW. </p>
<p><b>Toyota Tsusho Corp. </b>entered the U.S. market in natural gas-fired power plants by acquiring from GE Energy Financial Services an indirect ownership stake in the Oyster Creek Cogeneration Plant in Freeport, Texas, for about U.S. $100 million. Toyota Tsusho, acting through a North American subsidiary, bought a 45 percent interest in the plant. The Oyster Creek transaction marks the first partnership between Toyota Tsusho and GE Energy Financial Services in thermal power assets. </p>
<p><b>The American Wind Energy Association</b> (AWEA) formed the <b>Distributed Wind Energy Association</b> (DWEA), which focuses on advocacy and education to promote the on-site generation and consumption of distributed wind energy. </p>
<p><b>Solar Frontier</b>, a manufacturer of thin film solar technology based on the elements copper, indium, selenium, gallium, and sulfur, announced that it has signed an agreement to jointly develop thin film solar cell technology with IBM based on the elements copper, zinc, tin, sulfur, and selenium. This joint development will couple IBM’s groundbreaking research with Solar Frontier’s thin film development and manufacturing capabilities to create a cost competitive solar technology that uses earth-abundant materials. </p>
<p><b>AllEarth Renewables</b>, a Vermont manufacturer of grid-connected wind turbines and solar tracking systems, received a contract from <b>Chittenden County Solar Partners</b> to install 382 AllSun Trackers at a solar farm in South Burlington, Vt. The installation will be the largest solar array to date in the state of Vermont and is scheduled to begin operations by early 2011. </p>
<p><b>RMK Solar</b> began building one of the largest ground-based solar energy systems in Pennsylvania, under contract with pretzel maker <b>Snyder’s of Hanover</b>. When completed the solar farm will include more than 15,000 panels spanning 26 acres, directly across from the Snyder’s of Hanover corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility in Hanover, Pa. </p>
<p><b>Pattern Energy Group</b> says the 101.2 MW Hatchet Ridge wind project in Burney, Calif., is now operational and selling electricity to PG&amp;E under a 15-year power purchase agreement. RES America Construction built the wind farm infrastructure, while <b>Siemens</b> erected 44 of its SWT-2.3-93 wind turbines, equipped with blades manufactured in Fort Madison, Iowa. Ameron International of Fontana, Calif., supplied turbine towers. Pattern Energy says the 101.2 MW wind energy project is the only large-scale wind project in California to reach operation this year. </p>
<p><b>Airstreams Renewables, Inc.</b> (ARI) announced plans to build a 20,000 square-foot renewable energy training center on a 33-acre parcel that ARI owns in Tehachapi, Calif. The training center will be located adjacent to a 1.5 to 2 MW solar park that a solar developer plans to build on 14 acres of ARI’s land, under lease for 33 years. Project construction is scheduled to begin in 2013. Additionally, ARI plans to significantly expand its ENSA North America subsidiary across the U.S. and Canada and to deploy additional mobile training facilities, in addition to hiring and training technical trainers. </p>
<p><b>GE’s Jenbacher</b> announced the development of a new power-generation gas engine, the J920 engine, with electrical efficiency of 48.7 percent and an output of 9.5 MW. GE says the new engine will emit 1,500 tons of CO2 per year less than a comparable engine. </p>
<p>The <b>Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement</b> (BOEMRE), the <b>Department of Energy</b> (DOE), and the Department of Commerce’s <b>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</b> (NOAA) announced eight joint research awards totaling nearly $5 million to support the responsible siting and permitting of offshore wind energy facilities and ocean energy generated from waves, tides, currents and thermal gradients. The following projects were selected for awards: 1) Parametrix, Auburn, Wash., $499,000 to apply probabilistic statistical methods to evaluate ocean renewable energy siting proposals; 2) Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bioacoustics Research Program, Ithaca, N.Y., $499,000 to study how offshore alternative energy (OAE) activities affect marine vertebrates; 3) University of Rhode Island, Kingston R.I., $745,000 to develop standardized data protocols for specific offshore renewable energy issues; 4) University of Washington-School of Aquatic and Fishery Scientists, Seattle, Wash., $746,000 to evaluate acoustic technologies for studying animal populations at a proposed hydrokinetic site; 5) Pacific Energy Ventures, Portland, Ore., $499,000 to build an environmental data protocol framework for evaluating offshore renewable energy projects; 6) University of Arkansas Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies, Fayetteville, Ark., $497,000 to develop a spatial layout system to design, analyze and visualize offshore renewable energy projects; 7) University of Texas at Austin-Bureau of Economic Geology, Austin, Texas, $497,000 to compile information needed to establish best management practices for U.S. offshore geologic sequestration; and 8) University of Massachusetts—Marine Renewable Energy Center, Dartmouth, Mass., $748,000 for spatial survey technologies, assessment and post-development monitoring of offshore renewable energy resources and facilities. </p>
<p><b>Princeton Properties Management</b> installed a second-phase solar energy system on its apartment community in Salem, Mass. The Princeton Properties apartment community in Salem is one of the largest single-site solar projects in the state’s history. </p>
<h4>T&amp;D </h4>
<p><b>Telogis</b> introduced Telogis Fleet 8, a GPS-based fleet management software designed to help fleet managers to integrate planning and operational data, field variables and location-based intelligence to make informed field-force deployment decisions. </p>
<p><b>Jacobs Engineering Group</b> received a contract from <b>Bonneville Power Administration</b> (BPA) to provide on-site construction administration and inspection services to build and replace transmission lines, substations and ancillary communications projects. </p>
<p>The <b>U.S. Department of Energy</b> announced the offer of a conditional commitment for a $350 million loan guarantee to develop the One Nevada Transmission Line (ON Line), the first transmission line project to be offered a conditional commitment by the loan programs office of the Department of Energy. ON Line consists of a new 500 kilovolt (kV) AC transmission line that will run 235 miles, with a new substation located at the northern end of the line. The project will carry approximately 600 MW of electricity, including renewable energy resources, and is expected to integrate existing transmission systems while improving grid reliability and efficiency. </p>
<p><b>Survalent Technology</b> commissioned a new supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system for the City of Marceline, Mo. The new SmartSCADA system incorporates many of Survalent’s advanced system applications, including: event data recording, IED Wizard, control panel, SCADA add-in for MS Excel and Access, and remote alarm annunciation. </p>
<p><b>Survalent</b> also installed a new SCADA system for Dothan Utilities, headquartered in Dothan, Ala. The new system was provided under a turnkey contract by Survalent with complete database and graphics for 40 sites. The system included Survalent’s WebSurv solution, an application to serve real-time SCADA information to users via web browser, and without the need for custom installation or maintenance. </p>
<p><b>Sioux Valley Energy</b> released Full Spectrum’s FullMax mobile broadband system for its private wide-area mission mobile data needs. The FullMax system is used for energy related mobile workforce management applications. </p>
<p><b>Alstom Grid</b> was selected to provide HVDC converter technology for the Tres Amigas SuperStation, a power transmission hub that will link America’s three primary electric transmission grids. </p>
<p><b>ABB</b> won an order worth $20 million from Public Power Corp. (PPC), Greece’s national power utility, to build a 150/20 kV substation in Athens. ABB has turnkey responsibility for design, engineering, supply, and installation of the substation. Key equipment to be supplied includes eight 150kV GIS bays, three 150/20kV 100 MVA (megavolt ampere) power transformers as well as 150 arc-proof type switchgear panels. The substation will also be equipped with an IEC 61850 substation automation system to facilitate open communication between the numerous control and protection devices. </p>
<h4>SmartGrid </h4>
<p>The <b>OpenADR Alliance</b> has been formed to accelerate industry adoption of an automated demand response (ADR) standard for smart grid technologies. Smart grid standards for ADR are aimed at reducing the cost, improving the reliability, and accelerating the speed of DR and smart grid implementations across the United States. The alliance is supported by Honeywell, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Pacific Gas &amp; Electric, and Southern California Edison. </p>
<p>The <b>International Electrotechnical Commission</b> (IEC) announced it will launch its online <b>IEC Smart Grid Standard Mapping Solution</b>, an interactive tool that creates a map of the smart grid and enables smart grid managers to identify IEC smart grid standards, by the end of 2010 or early 2011. </p>
<p><b>Tendril</b> and <b>Lockheed Martin</b> announced they will be working to integrate Lockheed Martin’s SEEload demand response management solution with Tendril’s energy management platform. The integration enables utilities to deploy programs based on the new Open ADR standard. </p>
<p><b>Bridge Energy</b> will serve as the smart grid integration partner for Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC). OUC will start integrating meter data management (MDM), customer information system (CIS) and outage management system (OMS) applications as part of a broader smart grid initiative. Bridge will use its eFame methodology to integrate OUC’s newly acquired eMeter MDM application with OUC’s existing CIS and OMS applications across distributed locations. Bridge’s Bridge says eFame is its system for performing strategic assessment, developing smart grid strategy, evaluating vendor products and implementing application integration. </p>
<p><b>Powerhouse Dynamics</b> recently released eMonitor, a home energy management system that alerts users to critical items with their power usage. eMonitor connects to a home’s circuit panel and enables users to view the home’s power consumption, phantom power loss and carbon footprint. </p>
<p><b>WeatherBug</b> announced the launch of WeatherBug Smart Grid Solutions, a group of applications using real-time, hyper-local weather intelligence to improve efficiency across utility systems. </p>
<h4>EVs &amp; Storage </h4>
<p><b>GoSmart Technologies</b> finished installing ChargeSPOT networked electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment at a data center being built in North Carolina. The data center, which was designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification, is owned by an unnamed Fortune 500 company. </p>
<h4>People </h4>
<p>The <b>Solar Electric Power Association</b> elected <b>Janet Gagnon</b> and <b>Lisa Frantzis</b> to its board of directors. Gagnon heads government relations and lobbying efforts for SolarWorld, and serves on the boards of directors for the Solar Energy Industries Associaton, the Solar Alliance, CalSEIA, CoSEIA, and NYSEIA. Frantzis is managing director of the renewable and distributed energy practice at <b>Navigant Consulting</b>. </p>
<p>The <b>National Institute of Standards and Technology</b> (NIST) named new members of the GridWise Alliance to its newly formed Smart Grid Advisory Committee. The Alliance members appointed to the board include: <b>Jon Arnold</b>, managing director of Microsoft’s worldwide power and utilities industry business; <b>Lawrence E. Jones</b>, Alstom Grid’s director, strategy and special projects worldwide; <b>Terry Mohn</b>, founder and chief strategy officer at General MicroGrids; and <b>Simon Pontin</b>, v.p. for development at Itron’s Oconee manufacturing facility. </p>
<p><b>Steptoe &amp; Johnson</b> added new attorneys to the firm’s practice. <b>K. Jason Lucas</b> joins the firm’s Wheeling, W.V., office and focuses his practice in the area of energy law. <b>Diana S. Prulhiere</b> joins the firm’s Charleston, W.V., office, focusing her practice in the area of environmental law. </p>
<p><b>Vertex</b> appointed <b>Barry Shurkey</b> as global head of applications. Shurkey is responsible for leading the Vertex global applications team as it develops industry-specific IT applications. </p>
<h4>M&amp;A &amp; Finance </h4>
<p><b>ITOCHU</b> and <b>General Electric</b> completed the first transaction under their collaboration agreement by making a co-investment in the estimated $319 million CPV Keenan II wind farm under construction in Oklahoma. GE Energy sold a portion of its $65 million preferred equity interest in the wind farm to Tyr Keenan II, an indirect subsidiary of ITOCHU. This co-investment is the first transaction under the collaboration and cooperation agreement that GE and ITOCHU finalized in May to identify co-investment opportunities in renewable energy worldwide. </p>
<p><b>Allegiance Capital</b> facilitated <b>T&amp;D Solutions</b>’ acquisition of<b> E&amp;R Inc.</b>, a power line maintenance services company based in North Carolina. Terms of the private transaction weren’t disclosed. </p>
<p><b>Ice Energy</b>, which provides smart grid-enabled distributed energy storage systems, closed a $24 million Series C financing. The equity investment—from TIAA-CREF, Energy Capital Partners, Good Energies, Sail Ventures and Second Avenue Partners—provides Ice Energy with working and growth capital to support its deployment of utility-scale distributed energy storage projects. TIAA-CREF’s $4.5 million portion is its first under a new green building technology partnership with Good Energies. </p>
<p><b>1366 Technologies</b>, a solar technology manufacturer, closed a $20 million Series B financing, bringing the company’s total amount raised to $37.55 million. Korea’s Hanwha Chemical and Ventizz Capital Fund IV joined returning investors North Bridge Venture Partners and Polaris Venture Partners in backing the company. </p>
<h4>Energy Services </h4>
<p><b>Stream Energy</b> has begun operations in the Pennsylvania electricity market and recently started accepting residential customers’ requests for service in the PPL service area in southwestern Pennsylvania. </p>
<p><b>Gateway Energy</b> announced its fixed-rate offer for electricity, which the company says provides 10 percent savings for residents when compared with PECO’s first-quarter price to compare. Gateway says its 8.9 cents/kWh fixed rate is guaranteed through June 30, 2011. </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Category (Actual): </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/article-categories/generation-markets">Generation &amp; Markets</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1"><a href="/article-categories/td-grid">T&amp;D Grid</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2"><a href="/article-categories/finance">Finance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-members-only field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Viewable to All?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-featured field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Featured?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Department: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/department/vendor-neutral">Vendor Neutral</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<a href="/tags/abb">ABB</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/alstom">Alstom</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/alstom-grid">Alstom Grid</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/american-wind-energy-association">American Wind Energy Association</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/awea">AWEA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/berkeley">Berkeley</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/better-place">Better Place</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/bonneville-power-administration">Bonneville Power Administration</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/bpa">BPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/bpa-0">BPA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/cis">CIS</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/co2">CO2</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/commission">Commission</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/cpv">CPV</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/dc">DC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/department-energy">Department of Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/doe">DOE</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/dr">DR</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/eia">EIA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/eia-0">EIA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/emeter">eMeter</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/enernoc">EnerNOC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ev">EV</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/evs">EVs</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/finance">Finance</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/financing">Financing</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ge">GE</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ge-energy-financial">GE Energy Financial</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ge-energy-financial-services">GE Energy Financial Services</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/general-electric">General Electric</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/gis">GIS</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/grid-reliability">grid reliability</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/gridwise">GridWise</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/gridwise-alliance">GridWise Alliance</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/honeywell">Honeywell</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/hvdc">HVDC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ibm">IBM</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ice-energy">Ice Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/iec">IEC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/international-electrotechnical-commission">International Electrotechnical Commission</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/it">IT</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/itochu">ITOCHU</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/itron">Itron</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/jenbacher">Jenbacher</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/lawrence-berkeley-national-laboratory">Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/lockheed">Lockheed</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/lockheed-martin">Lockheed Martin</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/mdm">MDM</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/microsoft">Microsoft</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/national-institute-standards-and-technology">National Institute of Standards and Technology</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/navigant">Navigant</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/navigant-consulting">Navigant Consulting</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nist">NIST</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/noaa">NOAA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/oem">OEM</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/oms">OMS</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/openadr">OpenADR</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ot">OT</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pattern-energy">Pattern Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pattern-energy-group">Pattern Energy Group</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/peco">PECO</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ppl">PPL</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pv">PV</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/rec">REC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/regulation">Regulation</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/renewable">Renewable</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/renewable-energy">Renewable Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/res">RES</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/scada">SCADA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/siemens">Siemens</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/smart-grid">Smart grid</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar">Solar</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar-electric-power-association">Solar Electric Power Association</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/solar-panels">solar panels</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/southern-california-edison">Southern California Edison</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/storage">storage</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/survalent-technology">Survalent Technology</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/technology">Technology</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/tendril">Tendril</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/transmission">Transmission</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/tres-amigas">Tres Amigas</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/us-department-energy">U.S. Department of Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/university-texas">University of Texas</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/wind">Wind</a> </div>
</div>
Wed, 01 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000puradmin13567 at http://www.fortnightly.com